Analyze Diet
Journal of virology2021; 95(15); e0077721; doi: 10.1128/JVI.00777-21

Structure and Sequence Requirements for RNA Capping at the Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus RNA 5′ End.

Abstract: Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) is a reemerging arthropod-borne virus causing encephalitis in humans and domesticated animals. VEEV possesses a positive single-stranded RNA genome capped at its 5' end. The capping process is performed by the nonstructural protein nsP1, which bears methyl and guanylyltransferase activities. The capping reaction starts with the methylation of GTP. The generated mGTP is complexed to the enzyme to form an mGMP-nsP1 covalent intermediate. The mGMP is then transferred onto the 5'-diphosphate end of the viral RNA. Here, we explore the specificities of the acceptor substrate in terms of length, RNA secondary structure, and/or sequence. Any diphosphate nucleosides but GDP can serve as acceptors of the mGMP to yield mGpppA, mGpppC, or mGpppU. We show that capping is more efficient on small RNA molecules, whereas RNAs longer than 130 nucleotides are barely capped by the enzyme. The structure and sequence of the short, conserved stem-loop, downstream to the cap, is an essential regulatory element for the capping process. The emergence, reemergence, and expansion of alphaviruses (genus of the family ) are a serious public health and epizootic threat. Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) causes encephalitis in human and domesticated animals, with a mortality rate reaching 80% in horses. To date, no efficient vaccine or safe antivirals are available for human use. VEEV nonstructural protein 1 (nsP1) is the viral capping enzyme characteristic of the genus. nsP1 catalyzes methyltransferase and guanylyltransferase reactions, representing a good therapeutic target. In the present report, we provide insights into the molecular features and specificities of the cap acceptor substrate for the guanylylation reaction.
Publication Date: 2021-07-12 PubMed ID: 34011549PubMed Central: PMC8274618DOI: 10.1128/JVI.00777-21Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research explores the specific characteristics of Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus (VEEV)’s RNA capping process, performed by its nonstructural protein nsP1. This study intends to offer insights regarding the RNA’s length, sequence, and structure necessities for this process.

Objective of the Research

  • The primary purpose of this research is to understand the specific requirements and properties of the Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus (VEEV)’s RNA capping process. This process is instrumental in the virus’s ability to cause encephalitis in humans and animals.

Procedure and Findings

  • The capping process is carried out by a nonstructural protein referred to as nsP1. This protein exhibits guanylyltransferase and methyltransferase activities – two crucial reactions in the virus’s replication process.
  • The capping reaction begins with GTP’s methylation. The newly generated mGTP then connects to the enzyme to form an mGMP-nsP1 covalent intermediate. Finally, the mGMP is transferred onto the viral RNA’s 5′-diphosphate end.
  • The researchers explore the specificities of the substrate that accepts this mGMP in the capping process, particularly concerning its length, sequence, and secondary structure.
  • The study shows that the capping process is more effective on smaller RNA molecules. In contrast, RNAs that are longer than 130 nucleotides are barely capped by the enzyme.
  • They also discover that the conserved stem-loop, located downstream to the cap, is critical for the capping process. Its structure and sequence serve as a vital regulatory element.

Significance of the Research

  • This research offers valuable insight into the mechanisms that enable the VEEV to cause severe diseases in humans and animals. The information can be instrumental in the development of effective vaccines and antivirals.
  • Alphaviruses are a serious public health and epizootic threat due to their ability to emerge, reemerge, and expand. VEEV, a type of Alphavirus, has a high mortality rate, with little to no efficient vaccine or safe antiviral available for human use.
  • The VEEV’s nonstructural protein nsP1, which plays a pivotal role in the virus’s propagation, could potentially serve as an excellent therapeutic target. The research provides a foundation for understanding the molecular features of the cap acceptor substrate, critical for select therapeutic interventions targeting the guanylylation reaction.

Cite This Article

APA
Ortega Granda O, Valle C, Shannon A, Decroly E, Canard B, Coutard B, Rabah N. (2021). Structure and Sequence Requirements for RNA Capping at the Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus RNA 5′ End. J Virol, 95(15), e0077721. https://doi.org/10.1128/JVI.00777-21

Publication

ISSN: 1098-5514
NlmUniqueID: 0113724
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 95
Issue: 15
Pages: e0077721
PII: e00777-21

Researcher Affiliations

Ortega Granda, Oney
  • Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, AFMB UMR 7257, Marseille, France.
Valle, Coralie
  • Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, AFMB UMR 7257, Marseille, France.
Shannon, Ashleigh
  • Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, AFMB UMR 7257, Marseille, France.
Decroly, Etienne
  • Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, AFMB UMR 7257, Marseille, France.
Canard, Bruno
  • Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, AFMB UMR 7257, Marseille, France.
Coutard, Bruno
  • Unité des Virus Emergents (UVE): Aix-Marseille Univ-IRD 190-Inserm, Marseille, France.
Rabah, Nadia
  • Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, AFMB UMR 7257, Marseille, France.
  • Université de Toulon, La Garde, France.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Encephalitis Virus, Venezuelan Equine / genetics
  • Encephalomyelitis, Venezuelan Equine / pathology
  • Encephalomyelitis, Venezuelan Equine / virology
  • Horses
  • Humans
  • Methyltransferases / metabolism
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation
  • Nucleotidyltransferases / metabolism
  • RNA Caps / genetics
  • RNA, Viral / genetics
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins / metabolism
  • Virus Replication / genetics

References

This article includes 57 references
  1. Ronca SE, Dineley KT, Paessler S. Neurological Sequelae Resulting from Encephalitic Alphavirus Infection.. Front Microbiol 2016;7:959.
    doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.00959pmc: PMC4913092pubmed: 27379085google scholar: lookup
  2. Sharma A, Knollmann-Ritschel B. Current Understanding of the Molecular Basis of Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus Pathogenesis and Vaccine Development.. Viruses 2019 Feb 18;11(2).
    doi: 10.3390/v11020164pmc: PMC6410161pubmed: 30781656google scholar: lookup
  3. Snyder JE, Kulcsar KA, Schultz KL, Riley CP, Neary JT, Marr S, Jose J, Griffin DE, Kuhn RJ. Functional characterization of the alphavirus TF protein.. J Virol 2013 Aug;87(15):8511-23.
    doi: 10.1128/JVI.00449-13pmc: PMC3719798pubmed: 23720714google scholar: lookup
  4. Rupp JC, Sokoloski KJ, Gebhart NN, Hardy RW. Alphavirus RNA synthesis and non-structural protein functions.. J Gen Virol 2015 Sep;96(9):2483-2500.
    doi: 10.1099/jgv.0.000249pmc: PMC4635493pubmed: 26219641google scholar: lookup
  5. Jones R, Bragagnolo G, Arranz R, Reguera J. Capping pores of alphavirus nsP1 gate membranous viral replication factories.. Nature 2021 Jan;589(7843):615-619.
    doi: 10.1038/s41586-020-3036-8pmc: PMC7739802pubmed: 33328629google scholar: lookup
  6. Cross RK. Identification of a unique guanine-7-methyltransferase in Semliki Forest virus (SFV) infected cell extracts.. Virology 1983 Oct 30;130(2):452-63.
    doi: 10.1016/0042-6822(83)90099-5pubmed: 6649413google scholar: lookup
  7. Ahola T, Laakkonen P, Vihinen H, Kääriäinen L. Critical residues of Semliki Forest virus RNA capping enzyme involved in methyltransferase and guanylyltransferase-like activities.. J Virol 1997 Jan;71(1):392-7.
    doi: 10.1128/JVI.71.1.392-397.1997pmc: PMC191063pubmed: 8985362google scholar: lookup
  8. Rikkonen M, Peränen J, Kääriäinen L. ATPase and GTPase activities associated with Semliki Forest virus nonstructural protein nsP2.. J Virol 1994 Sep;68(9):5804-10.
  9. Vasiljeva L, Merits A, Auvinen P, Kääriäinen L. Identification of a novel function of the alphavirus capping apparatus. RNA 5'-triphosphatase activity of Nsp2.. J Biol Chem 2000 Jun 9;275(23):17281-7.
    doi: 10.1074/jbc.M910340199pubmed: 10748213google scholar: lookup
  10. Karpe YA, Aher PP, Lole KS. NTPase and 5'-RNA triphosphatase activities of Chikungunya virus nsP2 protein.. PLoS One 2011;6(7):e22336.
  11. Li C, Guillén J, Rabah N, Blanjoie A, Debart F, Vasseur JJ, Canard B, Decroly E, Coutard B. mRNA Capping by Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus nsP1: Functional Characterization and Implications for Antiviral Research.. J Virol 2015 Aug;89(16):8292-303.
    doi: 10.1128/JVI.00599-15pmc: PMC4524220pubmed: 26041283google scholar: lookup
  12. Rabah N, Ortega Granda O, Quérat G, Canard B, Decroly E, Coutard B. Mutations on VEEV nsP1 relate RNA capping efficiency to ribavirin susceptibility.. Antiviral Res 2020 Oct;182:104883.
  13. Gorchakov R, Hardy R, Rice CM, Frolov I. Selection of functional 5' cis-acting elements promoting efficient sindbis virus genome replication.. J Virol 2004 Jan;78(1):61-75.
    doi: 10.1128/jvi.78.1.61-75.2004pmc: PMC303405pubmed: 14671088google scholar: lookup
  14. Kutchko KM, Madden EA, Morrison C, Plante KS, Sanders W, Vincent HA, Cruz Cisneros MC, Long KM, Moorman NJ, Heise MT, Laederach A. Structural divergence creates new functional features in alphavirus genomes.. Nucleic Acids Res 2018 Apr 20;46(7):3657-3670.
    doi: 10.1093/nar/gky012pmc: PMC6283419pubmed: 29361131google scholar: lookup
  15. Niesters HG, Strauss JH. Mutagenesis of the conserved 51-nucleotide region of Sindbis virus.. J Virol 1990 Apr;64(4):1639-47.
  16. Niesters HG, Strauss JH. Defined mutations in the 5' nontranslated sequence of Sindbis virus RNA.. J Virol 1990 Sep;64(9):4162-8.
  17. Kuhn RJ, Hong Z, Strauss JH. Mutagenesis of the 3' nontranslated region of Sindbis virus RNA.. J Virol 1990 Apr;64(4):1465-76.
  18. Fayzulin R, Frolov I. Changes of the secondary structure of the 5' end of the Sindbis virus genome inhibit virus growth in mosquito cells and lead to accumulation of adaptive mutations.. J Virol 2004 May;78(10):4953-64.
  19. Levis R, Schlesinger S, Huang HV. Promoter for Sindbis virus RNA-dependent subgenomic RNA transcription.. J Virol 1990 Apr;64(4):1726-33.
  20. Wielgosz MM, Raju R, Huang HV. Sequence requirements for Sindbis virus subgenomic mRNA promoter function in cultured cells.. J Virol 2001 Apr;75(8):3509-19.
  21. Nickens DG, Hardy RW. Structural and functional analyses of stem-loop 1 of the Sindbis virus genome.. Virology 2008 Jan 5;370(1):158-72.
    doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2007.08.006pubmed: 17900652google scholar: lookup
  22. Frolov I, Schlesinger S. Translation of Sindbis virus mRNA: analysis of sequences downstream of the initiating AUG codon that enhance translation.. J Virol 1996 Feb;70(2):1182-90.
  23. Frolova E, Frolov I, Schlesinger S. Packaging signals in alphaviruses.. J Virol 1997 Jan;71(1):248-58.
    doi: 10.1128/JVI.71.1.248-258.1997pmc: PMC191045pubmed: 8985344google scholar: lookup
  24. Volkova E, Gorchakov R, Frolov I. The efficient packaging of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus-specific RNAs into viral particles is determined by nsP1-3 synthesis.. Virology 2006 Jan 20;344(2):315-27.
    doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2005.09.010pmc: PMC2430184pubmed: 16239019google scholar: lookup
  25. Kim DY, Firth AE, Atasheva S, Frolova EI, Frolov I. Conservation of a packaging signal and the viral genome RNA packaging mechanism in alphavirus evolution.. J Virol 2011 Aug;85(16):8022-36.
    doi: 10.1128/JVI.00644-11pmc: PMC3147971pubmed: 21680508google scholar: lookup
  26. Hyde JL, Gardner CL, Kimura T, White JP, Liu G, Trobaugh DW, Huang C, Tonelli M, Paessler S, Takeda K, Klimstra WB, Amarasinghe GK, Diamond MS. A viral RNA structural element alters host recognition of nonself RNA.. Science 2014 Feb 14;343(6172):783-7.
    doi: 10.1126/science.1248465pmc: PMC4209899pubmed: 24482115google scholar: lookup
  27. Johnson BJ, Kinney RM, Kost CL, Trent DW. Molecular determinants of alphavirus neurovirulence: nucleotide and deduced protein sequence changes during attenuation of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus.. J Gen Virol 1986 Sep;67 ( Pt 9):1951-60.
    doi: 10.1099/0022-1317-67-9-1951pubmed: 3755750google scholar: lookup
  28. Kinney RM, Johnson BJ, Welch JB, Tsuchiya KR, Trent DW. The full-length nucleotide sequences of the virulent Trinidad donkey strain of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus and its attenuated vaccine derivative, strain TC-83.. Virology 1989 May;170(1):19-30.
    doi: 10.1016/0042-6822(89)90347-4pubmed: 2524126google scholar: lookup
  29. Kulasegaran-Shylini R, Thiviyanathan V, Gorenstein DG, Frolov I. The 5'UTR-specific mutation in VEEV TC-83 genome has a strong effect on RNA replication and subgenomic RNA synthesis, but not on translation of the encoded proteins.. Virology 2009 Apr 25;387(1):211-21.
    doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2009.02.027pmc: PMC2675632pubmed: 19278709google scholar: lookup
  30. Frolov I, Hardy R, Rice CM. Cis-acting RNA elements at the 5' end of Sindbis virus genome RNA regulate minus- and plus-strand RNA synthesis.. RNA 2001 Nov;7(11):1638-51.
    doi: 10.1017/S135583820101010Xpmc: PMC1370205pubmed: 11720292google scholar: lookup
  31. Milhas S, Raux B, Betzi S, Derviaux C, Roche P, Restouin A, Basse MJ, Rebuffet E, Lugari A, Badol M, Kashyap R, Lissitzky JC, Eydoux C, Hamon V, Gourdel ME, Combes S, Zimmermann P, Aurrand-Lions M, Roux T, Rogers C, Müller S, Knapp S, Trinquet E, Collette Y, Guillemot JC, Morelli X. Protein-Protein Interaction Inhibition (2P2I)-Oriented Chemical Library Accelerates Hit Discovery.. ACS Chem Biol 2016 Aug 19;11(8):2140-8.
    doi: 10.1021/acschembio.6b00286pubmed: 27219844google scholar: lookup
  32. Ahola T, Ahlquist P. Putative RNA capping activities encoded by brome mosaic virus: methylation and covalent binding of guanylate by replicase protein 1a.. J Virol 1999 Dec;73(12):10061-9.
  33. Huang YL, Hsu YH, Han YT, Meng M. mRNA guanylation catalyzed by the S-adenosylmethionine-dependent guanylyltransferase of bamboo mosaic virus.. J Biol Chem 2005 Apr 1;280(13):13153-62.
    doi: 10.1074/jbc.M412619200pubmed: 15677480google scholar: lookup
  34. Haugland RA, Cline MG. Post-transcriptional modifications of oat coleoptile ribonucleic acids. 5'-Terminal capping and methylation of internal nucleosides in poly(A)-rich RNA.. Eur J Biochem 1980 Feb;104(1):271-7.
  35. Mizumoto K, Kaziro Y, Lipmann F. Reaction mechanism of mRNA guanylyltransferase from rat liver: isolation and characterization of a guanylyl-enzyme intermediate.. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1982 Mar;79(6):1693-7.
    doi: 10.1073/pnas.79.6.1693pmc: PMC346046pubmed: 6281779google scholar: lookup
  36. Huang YL, Han YT, Chang YT, Hsu YH, Meng M. Critical residues for GTP methylation and formation of the covalent m7GMP-enzyme intermediate in the capping enzyme domain of bamboo mosaic virus.. J Virol 2004 Feb;78(3):1271-80.
  37. Yu L, Martins A, Deng L, Shuman S. Structure-function analysis of the triphosphatase component of vaccinia virus mRNA capping enzyme.. J Virol 1997 Dec;71(12):9837-43.
  38. Ogino T, Banerjee AK. Unconventional mechanism of mRNA capping by the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase of vesicular stomatitis virus.. Mol Cell 2007 Jan 12;25(1):85-97.
    doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2006.11.013pubmed: 17218273google scholar: lookup
  39. Ogino T, Banerjee AK. Formation of guanosine(5')tetraphospho(5')adenosine cap structure by an unconventional mRNA capping enzyme of vesicular stomatitis virus.. J Virol 2008 Aug;82(15):7729-34.
    doi: 10.1128/JVI.00326-08pmc: PMC2493324pubmed: 18495767google scholar: lookup
  40. Cross RK, Gomatos PJ. Concomitant methylation and synthesis in vitro of Semliki Forest virus (SFV) ss RNAs by a fraction from infected cells.. Virology 1981 Oct 30;114(2):542-54.
    doi: 10.1016/0042-6822(81)90234-8pubmed: 6170159google scholar: lookup
  41. Chiu YL, Ho CK, Saha N, Schwer B, Shuman S, Rana TM. Tat stimulates cotranscriptional capping of HIV mRNA.. Mol Cell 2002 Sep;10(3):585-97.
    doi: 10.1016/s1097-2765(02)00630-5pubmed: 12408826google scholar: lookup
  42. Tekes G, Rahmeh AA, Whelan SP. A freeze frame view of vesicular stomatitis virus transcription defines a minimal length of RNA for 5' processing.. PLoS Pathog 2011 Jun;7(6):e1002073.
  43. Sokoloski KJ, Haist KC, Morrison TE, Mukhopadhyay S, Hardy RW. Noncapped Alphavirus Genomic RNAs and Their Role during Infection.. J Virol 2015 Jun;89(11):6080-92.
    doi: 10.1128/JVI.00553-15pmc: PMC4442418pubmed: 25833042google scholar: lookup
  44. Ng CS, Kasumba DM, Fujita T, Luo H. Spatio-temporal characterization of the antiviral activity of the XRN1-DCP1/2 aggregation against cytoplasmic RNA viruses to prevent cell death.. Cell Death Differ 2020 Aug;27(8):2363-2382.
    doi: 10.1038/s41418-020-0509-0pmc: PMC7370233pubmed: 32034313google scholar: lookup
  45. Kulasegaran-Shylini R, Atasheva S, Gorenstein DG, Frolov I. Structural and functional elements of the promoter encoded by the 5' untranslated region of the Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus genome.. J Virol 2009 Sep;83(17):8327-39.
    doi: 10.1128/JVI.00586-09pmc: PMC2738147pubmed: 19515761google scholar: lookup
  46. LaPointe AT, Moreno-Contreras J, Sokoloski KJ. Increasing the Capping Efficiency of the Sindbis Virus nsP1 Protein Negatively Affects Viral Infection.. mBio 2018 Dec 11;9(6).
    doi: 10.1128/mBio.02342-18pmc: PMC6299483pubmed: 30538185google scholar: lookup
  47. Dong H, Ray D, Ren S, Zhang B, Puig-Basagoiti F, Takagi Y, Ho CK, Li H, Shi PY. Distinct RNA elements confer specificity to flavivirus RNA cap methylation events.. J Virol 2007 May;81(9):4412-21.
    doi: 10.1128/JVI.02455-06pmc: PMC1900168pubmed: 17301144google scholar: lookup
  48. Hu RH, Lin MC, Hsu YH, Meng M. Mutational effects of the consensus aromatic residues in the mRNA capping domain of Bamboo mosaic virus on GTP methylation and virus accumulation.. Virology 2011 Mar 1;411(1):15-24.
    doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2010.12.022pubmed: 21227477google scholar: lookup
  49. Dubin DT, Stollar V, Hsuchen CC, Timko K, Guild GM. Sindbis virus messenger RNA: the 5'-termini and methylated residues of 26 and 42 S RNA.. Virology 1977 Apr;77(2):457-70.
    doi: 10.1016/0042-6822(77)90471-8pubmed: 193248google scholar: lookup
  50. Pettersson RF, Söderlund H, Kääriäinen L. The nucleotide sequences of the 5'-terminal T1 oligonucleotides of Semliki-Forest-virus 42-S and 26-S RNAs are different.. Eur J Biochem 1980 Apr;105(3):435-43.
  51. Wang J, Alvin Chew BL, Lai Y, Dong H, Xu L, Balamkundu S, Cai WM, Cui L, Liu CF, Fu XY, Lin Z, Shi PY, Lu TK, Luo D, Jaffrey SR, Dedon PC. Quantifying the RNA cap epitranscriptome reveals novel caps in cellular and viral RNA.. Nucleic Acids Res 2019 Nov 18;47(20):e130.
    doi: 10.1093/nar/gkz751pmc: PMC6847653pubmed: 31504804google scholar: lookup
  52. McIntyre W, Netzband R, Bonenfant G, Biegel JM, Miller C, Fuchs G, Henderson E, Arra M, Canki M, Fabris D, Pager CT. Positive-sense RNA viruses reveal the complexity and dynamics of the cellular and viral epitranscriptomes during infection.. Nucleic Acids Res 2018 Jun 20;46(11):5776-5791.
    doi: 10.1093/nar/gky029pmc: PMC6009648pubmed: 29373715google scholar: lookup
  53. Sikorski PJ, Warminski M, Kubacka D, Ratajczak T, Nowis D, Kowalska J, Jemielity J. The identity and methylation status of the first transcribed nucleotide in eukaryotic mRNA 5' cap modulates protein expression in living cells.. Nucleic Acids Res 2020 Feb 28;48(4):1607-1626.
    doi: 10.1093/nar/gkaa032pmc: PMC7038993pubmed: 31984425google scholar: lookup
  54. De Vlugt C, Sikora D, Pelchat M. Insight into Influenza: A Virus Cap-Snatching.. Viruses 2018 Nov 16;10(11).
    doi: 10.3390/v10110641pmc: PMC6266781pubmed: 30453478google scholar: lookup
  55. Paul AV, Wimmer E. Initiation of protein-primed picornavirus RNA synthesis.. Virus Res 2015 Aug 3;206:12-26.
  56. Fujimura T, Esteban R. Yeast double-stranded RNA virus L-A deliberately synthesizes RNA transcripts with 5'-diphosphate.. J Biol Chem 2010 Jul 23;285(30):22911-8.
    doi: 10.1074/jbc.M110.138982pmc: PMC2906283pubmed: 20511225google scholar: lookup
  57. Massalski C, Bloch J, Zebisch M, Steinebrunner I. The biochemical properties of the Arabidopsis ecto-nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase AtAPY1 contradict a direct role in purinergic signaling.. PLoS One 2015;10(3):e0115832.

Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Jones R, Hons M, Rabah N, Zamarreño N, Arranz R, Reguera J. Structural basis and dynamics of Chikungunya alphavirus RNA capping by nsP1 capping pores.. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023 Mar 21;120(12):e2213934120.
    doi: 10.1073/pnas.2213934120pubmed: 36913573google scholar: lookup