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Template-dependent, in vitro replication of rotavirus RNA.

A template-dependent, in vitro rotavirus RNA replication system was established. The system initiated and synthesized full-length double-stranded RNAs on rotavirus positive-sense template RNAs. Native rotavirus mRNAs or in vitro transcripts, with bona fide 3' and 5' termini, derived from rotavirus cDNAs functioned as templates. Replicase activity was associated with a subviral particle containing VP1, VP2, and VP3 and was derived from native virions or baculovirus coexpression of rotavirus genes. A cis-acting signal involved in replication was localized within the 26 3'-terminal nucleotides of a reporter template RNA. Various biochemical and biophysical parameters affecting the efficiency of replication were examined to optimize the replication system. A replication system capable of in vitro initiation has not been previously described for Reoviridae.

Animals↗

Effects of conserved RNA secondary structures on hepatitis delta virus genotype I RNA editing, replication, and virus production.

RNA editing of the hepatitis delta virus (HDV) antigenome at the amber/W site by the host RNA adenosine deaminase ADAR1 is a critical step in the HDV replication cycle. Editing is required for production of the viral protein hepatitis delta antigen long form (HDAg-L), which is necessary for viral particle production but can inhibit HDV RNA replication. The RNA secondary structural features in ADAR1 substrates are not completely defined, but base pairing in the 20-nucleotide (nt) region 3' of editing sites is thought to be important. The 25-nt region 3' of the HDV amber/W site in HDV genotype I RNA consists of a conserved secondary structure that is mostly base paired but also has asymmetric internal loops and single-base bulges. To understand the effect of this 3' region on the HDV replication cycle, mutations that either increase or decrease base pairing in this region were created and the effects of these changes on amber/W site editing, RNA replication, and virus production were studied. Increased base pairing, particularly in the region 15 to 25 nt 3' of the editing site, significantly increased editing; disruption of base pairing in this region had little effect. Increased editing resulted in a dramatic inhibition of HDV RNA synthesis, mostly due to excess HDAg-L production. Although virus production at early times was unaffected by this reduced RNA replication, at later times it was significantly reduced. Therefore, it appears that the conserved RNA secondary structure around the HDV genotype I amber/W site has been selected not for the highest editing efficiency but for optimal viral replication and secretion.

Adenosine Deaminase↗

Alternative conformations of the ColE1 replication primer modulate its interaction with RNA I.

Replication of the ColE1 plasmid is regulated by the interaction of its primer RNA with a small countertranscript (RNA I) that acts as a repressor of functional primer formation. The interaction is dependent on the specific conformations of the complementary RNA molecules. Early in its synthesis, primer adopts an "anti-RNA I" configuration. As transcription proceeds, it is preempted by formation of an alternative domain designated stem-loop IV. This conformational transition has a significant effect on the rate of association of RNA I with the primer in vitro. Nascent primer in the "anti-RNA I" conformation (135 nucleotides) interacts with RNA I 6-fold faster than primer in the stem-loop IV conformation (241 nucleotides), and 35-fold faster than a 567 nucleotide primer precursor. We propose that a conformation-dependent "window of susceptibility" of primer to RNA I exists during primer transcription, and that altered conformations play a role in modulating the rate of functional primer formation.

Bacteriocin Plasmids↗

Short interfering RNA-directed inhibition of hepatitis B virus replication.

RNA interference (RNAi) is the process by which double-stranded RNA directs sequence-specific degradation of mRNA. In mammalian cells, RNAi can be triggered by 21-nucleotide duplexes of short interfering RNA (siRNA). We examined effects of siRNA on hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication. Human hepatoma cells were transfected with HBV DNA and siRNA against HBV-pregenome RNA. Transfection experiments demonstrated that the siRNA reduced the amount of HBV-pregenome RNA and resulted in reduction of the levels of replicative intermediates and viral protein. Our results indicate that siRNA-mediated gene silencing inhibits HBV replication through suppression of viral RNA, which may be useful as a potential therapeutic modality.

Blotting, Northern↗

Mycophenolic acid inhibits dengue virus infection by preventing replication of viral RNA.

Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne viral disease of global importance with no available antiviral therapy. We assessed the ability of mycophenolic acid (MPA), a drug currently used as an immunosuppressive agent, to inhibit dengue virus (DV) antigen expression, RNA replication, and virus production. Pharmacological concentrations of MPA effectively blocked DV infection, decreasing the percentage of infected cells by 99% and the levels of secreted virus by up to a millionfold. Results were reproduced with four hepatoma cell lines and different flaviviruses, including a recent West Nile virus isolate. Experiments were performed to define the stage in the viral lifecycle at which MPA abrogates infection. Early steps in viral infection, such as viral entry and nucleocapsid uncoating, were not the primary targets of MPA action since its inhibitory effect was retained when naked DV RNA was transfected directly into cells. Biosynthetic labeling experiments showed that MPA did not block the initial phase of viral translation but did interfere with viral protein synthesis in the amplification phase. Quantitative RT-PCR demonstrated that MPA prevented the accumulation of viral positive- and negative-strand RNA as the infection proceeded. We conclude that MPA inhibits flavivirus infection by preventing synthesis and accumulation of viral RNA.

Dengue Virus↗

Replication of the genomic RNA of a positive-strand RNA animal virus from negative-sense transcripts.

Studies of RNA replication among the positive-strand RNA animal viruses have been hindered by the apparent inability of their RNA-dependent RNA polymerases to initiate replication on the corresponding negative-sense RNAs. However, here I report that in the case of the nodavirus flock house virus (FHV), which has a bipartite positive-sense RNA genome, the viral RNA replicase can replicate a negative-sense transcript of the genome segment that encodes the viral capsid proteins. For this work, the FHV replication cycle was experimentally reconstructed in baby hamster kidney cells that were transfected with specialized transcription plasmids designed to direct the synthesis of RNAs which corresponded closely to the two genome segments of FHV. The RNA replicase encoded by the larger genome segment could utilize either the positive or the negative strand of the smaller segment as a template, and it catalyzed RNA replication to produce similar RNA products in the two situations. Surprisingly, studies of the nucleotide sequences that were required for replication showed that the 3' end of the negative-strand RNA contained only a minimal cis-acting signal. The success of these experiments will facilitate further studies of the cis- and trans-acting factors involved in the recognition and replication of negative-sense RNA in this system.

Base Sequence↗

Yeast 20 S RNA replicon. Replication intermediates and encoded putative RNA polymerase.

The 20 S RNA genome is a circular single-stranded replicon, present in most laboratory yeast strains, whose copy number is induced 10,000-fold by transfer of cells to acetate medium without a carbon source. We have sequenced most of the 20 S RNA genome, and the (+) strand has a long open reading frame with the potential to encode a protein with homology to viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerases. The presence of a typical cAMP-dependent phosphorylation site in the putative RNA polymerase suggests that the acetate amplification of the 20 S RNA genome might be mediated by cAMP, a signal known to transmit the same nutritional status information to the sporulation-control system. Our inability to clone across the gap in the sequence suggests either autocatalytic cleavage of the RNA in the reverse transcriptase reaction, an unusual linkage of 5' and 3' ends of a fundamentally linear molecule, or a structure unusually resistant to reverse transcription. The identity of our sequence with that of the accompanying paper (Rodriguez-Cousino, N., Esteban, L.M., and Esteban, R. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 12772-12778) for W double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) suggests that W is the replicative form of 20 S RNA. The presence of single-stranded (+) and (-) strands and greater than unit length molecules suggests a rolling circle mode of replication as has been suggested for viroids.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Role of the 5'-proximal stem-loop structure of the 5' untranslated region in replication and translation of hepatitis C virus RNA.

Sequences of the untranslated regions at the 5' and 3' ends (5'UTR and 3'UTR) of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA genome are highly conserved and contain cis-acting RNA elements for HCV RNA replication. The HCV 5'UTR consists of two distinct RNA elements, a short 5'-proximal stem-loop RNA element (nucleotides 1 to 43) and a longer element of internal ribosome entry site. To determine the sequence and structural requirements of the 5'-proximal stem-loop RNA element in HCV RNA replication and translation, a mutagenesis analysis was preformed by nucleotide deletions and substitutions. Effects of mutations in the 5'-proximal stem-loop RNA element on HCV RNA replication were determined by using a cell-based HCV replicon replication system. Deletion of the first 20 nucleotides from the 5' end resulted in elimination of cell colony formation. Likewise, disruption of the 5'-proximal stem-loop by nucleotide substitutions abolished the ability of HCV RNA to induce cell colony formation. However, restoration of the 5'-proximal stem-loop by compensatory mutations with different nucleotides rescued the ability of the subgenomic HCV RNA to replicate in Huh7 cells. In addition, deletion and nucleotide substitutions of the 5'-proximal stem-loop structure, including the restored stem-loop by compensatory mutations, all resulted in reduction of translation by two- to fivefold, suggesting that the 5'-proximal stem-loop RNA element also modulates HCV RNA translation. These findings demonstrate that the 5'-proximal stem-loop of the HCV RNA is a cis-acting RNA element that regulates HCV RNA replication and translation.

5' Untranslated Regions↗

RNA-dependent replication, transcription, and persistence of brome mosaic virus RNA replicons in S. cerevisiae.

This paper shows that yeast can be a host for the replication of a higher eukaryotic viral genome. Brome mosaic virus (BMV) is a member of the alphavirus-like superfamily of animal and plant positive strand RNA viruses. Yeast expressing BMV RNA replication genes 1a and 2a support RNA-dependent replication and transcription of BMV RNA3 derivatives. RNA3 derivatives with the coat gene replaced by a reporter gene expressed that gene in a fashion dependent on 1a and 2a expression in trans and on BMV RNA replication and transcription signals in cis. RNA3 derivatives carrying the yeast URA3 gene complemented ura3- yeast to prototrophy and were maintained as persistent RNA episomes. Thus, all cellular factors essential for BMV RNA replication and transcription must be present in yeast, and yeast genetics should facilitate their identification.

Base Sequence↗

Template-free generation of RNA species that replicate with bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase.

A large variety of different RNA species that are replicated by DNA-dependent RNA polymerase from bacteriophage T7 have been generated by incubating high concentrations of this enzyme with substrate for extended time periods. The products differed from sample to sample in molecular weight and sequence, their chain lengths ranging from 60 to 120. The mechanism of autocatalytic amplification of RNA by T7 RNA polymerase proved to be analogous to that observed with viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (replicases): only single-stranded templates are accepted and complementary replica strands are synthesized. With enzyme in excess, exponential growth was observed; linear growth resulted when the enzyme was saturated by RNA template. The plus strands, present at 90% of the replicating RNA species, were found to have GG residues at both termini. Consensus sequences were not found among the sequences of the replicating RNA species. The secondary structures of all species sequenced turned out to be hairpins. The RNA species were specifically replicated by T7 RNA polymerase; they were not accepted as templates by the RNA polymerases from Escherichia coli or bacteriophage SP6 or by Qbeta replicase; T3 RNA polymerase was partially active. Template-free production of RNA was completely suppressed by addition of DNA to the incubation mixture. When both DNA and RNA templates were present, transcription and replication competed, but T7 RNA polymerase preferred DNA as a template. No replicating RNA species were detected in vivo in cells expressing T7 RNA polymerase.

Bacteriophage T7↗

The chimeric nature of the genome of pea enation mosaic virus: the independent replication of RNA 2.

The genome of pea enation mosaic virus (PEMV) consists of two plus-sense RNAs, both of which are required for mechanical transmission. RNA 1 (5706 nucleotides) has strong sequence similarity with members of the luteovirus group, a similarity that is also manifested in the symptomatology, cytopathology and vector transmission of this virus. RNA 2 (4253 nucleotides) is hypothesized to facilitate systemic invasion and mechanical transmission, attributes that distinguish PEMV from the phloem-limited luteoviruses. Sequence analysis of RNA 2 has demonstrated that PEMV is unique among multicomponent viruses in that it lacks 3'- and 5'-terminal homology between its genomic RNAs. Sequence analysis of RNA 2 has identified an open reading frame encoding a putative product of 65K that contains a series of polymerase-like motifs typical of viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerases. This protein sequence lacks homology with the polymerase encoded on RNA 1 of PEMV, instead being more closely affiliated with the polymerases of viruses related to the carmo- and tombusvirus groups. Inoculation of pea protoplasts with RNA transcripts derived from a full-length cDNA clone of RNA 2 has demonstrated that RNA 2 replicates autonomously in the absence of RNA 1, although comparable inoculation of whole plants failed to establish a systemic infection. There is no evidence that RNA 2 encodes structural proteins, suggesting that encapsidation functions are supplied in trans by RNA 1, comparable to the helper-dependent complexes occurring within the luteovirus group. These data suggest that the PEMV genome can be characterized as a symbiotic association of two taxonomically distinct viral RNAs cooperatively interacting in the establishment of a systemic virus infection.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The rho subunit of RNA polymerase holoenzyme confers specificity in priming M13 viral DNA replication.

RNA polymerase specifically primes the replication of M13 DNA but not phi X174 DNA in vivo and in crude extracts of Escherichia coli. Yet purified preparations of RNA polymerase have been observed not to distinguish between the two templates. We investigated the basis for specificity by assaying priming and transcriptional activities on single-stranded phage DNAs covered by single-stranded DNA-binding protein. In the course of preparing homogeneous RNA polymerase holoenzyme, loss of specificity and decreased priming activity resulted from procedures which removed the rho subunit. Specificity was restored and priming activity was increased upon the addition of rho subunit to core RNA polymerase. Priming of replication depended on a very limited transcription, presumably confined to the unique sequence in M13 DNA that directs the origin of complementary strand synthesis. No transcription was observed on phi X174 DNA comparably covered by binding protein. Thus, the specific priming of M13 DNA replication in E. coli depends on recognition of an origin sequence by an RNA polymerase holoenzyme with a functional rho subunit. Priming specificity for M13 DNA replication thus provides a sensitive and simple test for the activity of the rho subunit of E. coli RNA polymerase, even though the M13 origin region lacks the sequences characteristic of RNA polymerase promoters.

Bacteriophage phi X 174↗

Intra-pinna anti-tumor vaccination with self-replicating infectious RNA or with DNA encoding a model tumor antigen and a cytokine.

To optimize polynucleotide vaccinations for protective antitumor immunity we used a self-replicating RNA vaccine in which Semliki Forest virus replicase drives RNA expression of the lacZ gene coding for beta-galactosidase as model tumor-associated antigen (TAA). This was compared with replicase-deficient control RNA and with lacZ DNA plasmids with respect to gene expression in vitro and in vivo and for vaccination using the mouse ear pinna as an optimal immunization site. In vitro, the highest expression was observed with self-replicating RNA. Gene expression following pinna inoculation of either non-replicating DNA plasmids or self-replicating RNA was similar, lasting for 2-3 weeks. Higher antibody responses were obtained with RNA than with DNA. beta-Gal peptide specific CTL memory responses to lacZ DNA or RNA lasted for more than 6 weeks while respective responses induced by lacZ-transfected tumor cells lasted for only 2 weeks. To achieve a protective response against lacZ tumor cells with self-replicating RNA about a 100-fold lower dose of polynucleotide was sufficient in comparison to DNA. The extent of protective antitumor immunity not only depended on the gene dose used for vaccination, but also on the aggressiveness of the lacZ-transfected tumor line used for challenge. In comparison to lacZ-transfected tumor cells as vaccines, polynucleotide vaccination also demonstrated superiority with regard to cross-protection. Protective antitumor immunity could be strongly increased upon co-inoculation of lacZ DNA with IL-2 DNA or IL-12 RNA. IL-2 DNA, but not IL-12 RNA, also augmented the CTL response while IL-12 RNA, but not IL-2 DNA, reduced the antibody response. These results demonstrate efficient protective antitumor immunity after intra-pinna lacZ TAA polynucleotide vaccination and show additional immunomodulatory effects by co-administration of cytokine polynucleotides.

Animals↗

Double-stranded nef RNA interferes with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 replication.

RNA interference (RNAi) has been reported to be post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS) by approximately 500 nucleotide-(nt)-long double-stranded (ds) RNA that specifically targets homologous sequences of messenger RNA. In this report, we describe inhibition of HIV-1 transcription by synthetic dsRNAs constructed with mutated nef genes (nef dsRNAs) derived from long-term non-progressors (LTNPs) using cotransfection of the target gene-expressing plasmid and dsRNA. The effects of nef dsRNAs were examined with luciferase (Luc) reporter which is combined with the HIV-1 (SF2) LTR in persistently HIV-1-infected T cell and macrophage cell lines. At 48 hr, a defective nef dsRNA (556 nt) suppressed Luc activity more potently than did SF2 full-length nef dsRNA (744 nt), suggesting that approximately 500 nt-long nef dsRNA could interfere with the HIV-1 transcription.

Gene Products, nef↗

Characterization of RNA synthesis, replication mechanism, and in vitro RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity of Japanese encephalitis virus.

In vitro RNA-dependent RNA polymerase assays revealed that the JEV replication complex (RC) synthesized viral RNA utilizing a semiconservative and asymmetric mechanism. Peak viral replicase activity and levels of viral RNA observed 15-18 h postinfection (h p.i.) preceded maximum viral titers in the culture medium seen 21 h p.i. Among divalent cations, Mg(2+) was essential and exhibited cooperative binding for its two replicase-binding sites. Mn(2+), despite sixfold higher affinity for the replicase, elicited only 70% of the maximum Mg(2+)-dependent activity, and deficit of either cation led to synthesis of incomplete RNA products. We also determined as a first instance for a flavivirus RC, kinetic parameters using cytoplasmic "virus-induced heavy membranes" after depleting endogenous nucleotides. Exhaustive trypsin treatment, which degraded the bulk of NS3 and NS5, had no effect on replicase activity, suggesting that the active flaviviral RC resides behind a membrane barrier and recruits minuscule proportions of the replicase proteins.

Animals↗

A positive-strand RNA virus replication complex parallels form and function of retrovirus capsids.

We show that brome mosaic virus (BMV) RNA replication protein 1a, 2a polymerase, and a cis-acting replication signal recapitulate the functions of Gag, Pol, and RNA packaging signals in conventional retrovirus and foamy virus cores. Prior to RNA replication, 1a forms spherules budding into the endoplasmic reticulum membrane, sequestering viral positive-strand RNA templates in a nuclease-resistant, detergent-susceptible state. When expressed, 2a polymerase colocalizes in these spherules, which become the sites of viral RNA synthesis and retain negative-strand templates for positive-strand RNA synthesis. These results explain many features of replication by numerous positive strand RNA viruses and reveal that these viruses, reverse transcribing viruses, and dsRNA viruses share fundamental similarities in replication and may have common evolutionary origins.

Bromovirus↗

Importance of the positive-strand RNA secondary structure of a murine coronavirus defective interfering RNA internal replication signal in positive-strand RNA synthesis.

The RNA elements that are required for replication of defective interfering (DI) RNA of the JHM strain of mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) consist of three discontinuous genomic regions: about 0.46 to 0.47 kb from both terminal sequences and an internal 58-nucleotide (nt)-long sequence (58-nt region) present at about 0.9 kb from the 5' end of the DI genome. The internal region is important for positive-strand DI RNA synthesis (Y. N. Kim and S. Makino, J. Virol. 69:4963-4971, 1995). We further characterized the 58-nt region in the present study and obtained the following results. (i) The positive-strand RNA structure in solution was comparable with that predicted by computer modeling. (ii) Positive-strand RNA secondary structure, but not negative-strand RNA structure, was important for the biological function of the region. (iii) The biological function had a sequence-specific requirement. We discuss possible mechanisms by which the internal cis-acting signal drives MHV positive-strand DI RNA synthesis.

Animals↗

cis-acting requirements for the replication of flock house virus RNA 2.

To examine the cis-acting requirements for RNA replication, a cDNA clone of flock house virus (FHV) RNA 2 was transfected into baby hamster kidney cells and transcribed to yield RNAs that had terminal extensions of different lengths or that lacked internal regions of the molecule. These RNAs were tested for their ability to be replicated by FHV replicase that was provided by cotransfection of purified FHV RNA 1. The results showed that RNA replication was inhibited by terminal extensions, particularly those at the 5' end of the RNA, despite the fact that these extensions were corrected during RNA replication. A negative-sense transcript with a 12-nucleotide 3' extension was replicated to produce a positive-sense RNA that had the correct 5' end, showing that the replicase could select its correct initiation site from within a longer template. A uridine residue at the second position of the positive strand was an important determinant of template activity. RNA molecules with large internal deletions that amounted to almost 50% of the 1,400 nucleotides of RNA 2 replicated as efficiently as full-length molecules, but only if they contained an internal region that lay between nucleotides 538 and 616. Thirty-six spontaneous deletions of RNA 2 that arose during sequential replicative passages all conserved the same internal region of the molecule. These results establish that both terminal and internal regions of FHV RNA 2 play essential roles in making the molecule a competent template for replication.

Animals↗