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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Nucleocapsid-independent specific viral RNA packaging via viral envelope protein and viral RNA signal.

For any of the enveloped RNA viruses studied to date, recognition of a specific RNA packaging signal by the virus's nucleocapsid (N) protein is the first step described in the process of viral RNA packaging. In the murine coronavirus a selective interaction between the viral transmembrane envelope protein M and the viral ribonucleoprotein complex, composed of N protein and viral RNA containing a short cis-acting RNA element, the packaging signal, determines the selective RNA packaging into virus particles. In this report we show that expressed coronavirus envelope protein M specifically interacted with coexpressed noncoronavirus RNA transcripts containing the short viral packaging signal in the absence of coronavirus N protein. Furthermore, this M protein-packaging signal interaction led to specific packaging of the packaging signal-containing RNA transcripts into coronavirus-like particles in the absence of N protein. These findings not only highlight a novel RNA packaging mechanism for an enveloped virus, where the specific RNA packaging can occur without the core or N protein, but also point to a new, biologically important general model of precise and selective interaction between transmembrane proteins and specific RNA elements.

Animals↗

Sequence relationships between adenovirus 2 early RNA and viral RNA size classes synthesized at 18 hours after infection.

Synthesis of cytoplasmic viral RNA was studied during infection of cultured human (KB) cells with adenovirus 2. At 6 h, before viral DNA synthesis began 5% of the poly(A)-containing RNA hybridized to viral DNA; by 12 h and at later times more than 80% was virus specified. At 18 h after infection, four major size classes of cytoplasmic viral RNA were identified among the poly(A)-containing molecules. These size classes migrated as 27S, 24S, 19S, and 12 to 15S in polyacrylamide gels. The three larger size classes could also be identified in denaturing formamide gels. Hybridization of the 27S, 24S, and 19S viral RNAs was not inhibited by RNA harvested from cells at early times in infection. Therefore, these three major RNAs must code for late viral proteins. Hybridization of the 12 to 15S RNA was partially inhibited by RNA from cultures harvested at early times, suggesting that in this size class some of the RNA labeled at 18 h codes for early viral proteins.

Adenine Nucleotides↗

Epstein-Barr virus RNA. V. Viral RNA in a restringently infected, growth-transformed cell line.

A continuous lymphoblastoid cell line, IB-4, was established by infection and growth transformation of normal neonatal B lymphocytes with the B95-8 isolate of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). The IB-4 cells contained the intranuclear antigen, EBNA, but not early antigen, EA. The fragments produced by the digestion of intracellular episomal viral DNA (density, 1.700 to 1.720 g/cm3) with EcoRI restriction endonuclease were identical in size to the A, B, C, E, F, G, and H fragments of virion DNA. As expected from the previous observation that episomal intracellular DNA is circular, the fragment containing the rightward terminal sequences of EBV DNA in IB-4 cells was larger than the corresponding fragment of linear viral DNA, probably as a consequence of covalent linkage to the leftward terminal fragment. Also, two fragments, EcoRI-I and -J, which were adjacent to each other in the virion DNA, were absent from the intracellular DNA. The labeled EcoRI-J of viral DNA hybridized instead to a new fragment equal in size to EcoRI-I and -J combined. Analysis of viral RNA in IB-4 cells showed that RNAs encoded by more than 30% of the viral DNA comprised approximately 0.06% of the nuclear RNA, whereas RNAs encoded by 20% and 10% of the viral DNA comprised approximately 0.06% and 0.003% of the polyadenylated and polyribosomal RNAs, respectively. Viral mRNA (polyribosomal RNA) was encoded by DNA which mapped at 0.05 x 10(8) to 0.36 x 10(8) daltons and to a lesser extent by DNAs which mapped at 0.62 x 10(8) to 0.67 x 10(8), 0.70 x 10(8) to 0.73 x 10(8), and 1.13 x 10(8) to 1.15 x 10(8) daltons in the B95-8 genome. The most agundant nuclear viral RNAs were encoded primarily by DNA which mapped at the same loci; but RNAs encoded by many other fragments of viral DNA could also be detected among nuclear RNAs. Viral mRNA(s) (polyribosomal) was encoded by about 40% of the internal reiteration and by 25% of the BamHI-H fragments which mapped from 0.32 x 10(8) to 0.36 x 10(8) daltons, nuclear RNAs were encoded by at least 57% of the internal reiteration and 40% of BamHI-H. These data indicate that there is selective accumulation of some viral RNAs within the nucleus of IB-4 cells and that there is selective post-transcriptional processing of these RNAs. Finer mapping of the DNA which encodes mRNA (polyribosomal) in IB-4 cells indicated that some of this DNA is deleted in the DNA of the P3 HR-1 virus, the only isolate of EBV which cannot initiate growth transformation. These data, therefore, support the hypothesis that expression of this region of EBV genome is important for growth transformation or for the maintenance of restrigent infection.

B-Lymphocytes↗

Arthritogenic properties of double-stranded (viral) RNA.

Viral infections often lead to arthralgias and overt arthritic states. The inflammatogenic compound of the viruses giving rise to such an outcome has to date not been identified. Because expression of dsRNA is a common feature of all viruses, we decided to analyze whether this property leads to the induction of arthritis. Histological signs of arthritis were evident already on day 3 following intra-articular administration of dsRNA. Arthritis was characterized by infiltration of macrophages into synovial tissue. It was not dependent on acquired immune responses because SCID mice also raised joint inflammation. NF-kappa B was activated upon in vitro exposure to dsRNA, indicating its role in the induction/progression of arthritis. Importantly, we found that dsRNA arthritis was triggered through IL-1R signaling because mice being deficient for this molecule were unable to develop joint inflammation. Although dsRNA is typically recognized by Toll-like receptor 3, Toll-like receptor 3 knockout mice developed arthritis, indicating that some other receptors are instrumental in the inducing of inflammation. Our results from in vitro experiments indicate that proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines stimulating monocyte influx were readily triggered in response to stimulation with dsRNA. These findings demonstrate that viral dsRNA is clearly arthritogenic. Importantly, macrophages and their products play an important role in the development of arthritis triggered by dsRNA.

Animals↗

Combination of a hepatitis C virus NS3-NS4A protease inhibitor and alpha interferon synergistically inhibits viral RNA replication and facilitates viral RNA clearance in replicon cells.

The present standard of care for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is pegylated alpha interferon (IFN-alpha) in combination with ribavirin. However, specific antivirals such as HCV NS3-NS4A protease inhibitors are now in clinical development, and these agents can potentially be used in combination with the present treatments. Therefore, it is important to investigate the potential benefits or adverse effects of these new combinations by using available in vitro HCV culture systems first. In the present study we demonstrate that the combination of a specific HCV NS3-NS4A protease inhibitor and IFN-alpha synergistically inhibits HCV RNA replication in replicon cells, with little or no increase in cytotoxicity. Furthermore, the benefit of the combination was sustained over time, such that a greater than 3-log reduction in HCV RNA levels was achieved following 9 days of treatment. The viral RNA appeared to be cleared from the replicon cells after 14 days of treatment, and no viral RNA rebound was observed upon withdrawal of the inhibitors. In each case, the antiviral effects obtained with higher concentrations of either the protease inhibitor alone or IFN-alpha alone can be achieved by a combination of both agents at lower concentrations, which may potentially reduce the risk of possible adverse effects associated with high doses of either agent.

Antiviral Agents↗

Specific inhibition of the synthesis of human lysyl-tRNA synthetase results in decreases in tRNA(Lys) incorporation, tRNA(3)(Lys) annealing to viral RNA, and viral infectivity in human immunodeficiency virus type 1.

The major human tRNA(Lys) isoacceptors, and, are selectively packaged into human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) during assembly, where acts as a primer for reverse transcription. Lysyl-tRNA synthetase (LysRS) is also incorporated into HIV-1, independently of tRNA(Lys), via its interaction with Gag, and is a strong candidate for being the signal that specifically targets tRNA(Lys) for viral incorporation. We have transfected 293T cells with HIV-1 proviral DNA and short interfering RNA (siRNA) specific for LysRS to study the effect of diminished cellular LysRS upon tRNA(Lys) packaging, annealing to viral genomic RNA, and viral production and infectivity. At early time points after siRNA transfection, an 80% inhibition of LysRS incorporation into viruses reflects an 80% reduction of newly synthesized LysRS, rather than a more limited 20 to 25% decrease in the concentration of total cell LysRS, indicating that newly synthesized LysRS in the cell may be the main source of viral LysRS. Viruses produced from cells transfected with siRNA show reduced tRNA(Lys) packaging, reduced annealing to viral RNA, and reduced viral infectivity.

HIV-1↗

Epstein-Barr virus RNA. VIII. Viral RNA in permissively infected B95-8 cells.

More than 50 RNAs expressed by Epstein-Barr virus late in productive infection have been identified. B95-8-infected cells were induced to a relatively high level of permissive infection with the tumor promotor 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate. Polyadenylated RNAs were extracted from the cell cytoplasm, separated by size on formaldehyde gels, transferred to nitrocellulose, and hybridized to labeled recombinant Epstein-Barr virus DNA fragments. Comparison of RNAs from induced cultures with RNAs from induced cultures also treated with phosphonoacetic acid to inhibit viral DNA synthesis identifies two RNA classes: a persistent early class of RNAs whose abundance is relatively resistant to viral DNA synthesis inhibition and a late class of RNAs whose abundance is relatively sensitive to viral DNA synthesis inhibition. The persistent early and late RNAs are not clustered but are intermixed and scattered through most of segments UL and US. The cytoplasmic polyadenylated RNAs expressed during latent infection were not detected in productively infected cells, indicating that different classes of viral RNA are associated with latent and productive infection. Non-polyadenylated small RNAs originally identified in cells latently infected with Epstein-Barr virus are expressed in greater abundance in productively infected cells and are part of the early RNA class.

Animals↗

Peanut clump virus RNA-1-encoded P15 regulates viral RNA accumulation but is not abundant at viral RNA replication sites.

RNA-1 of peanut clump pecluvirus (PCV) encodes N-terminally overlapping proteins which contain helicase-like (P131) and polymerase-like (P191) domains and is able to replicate in the absence of RNA-2 in protoplasts of tobacco BY-2 cells. RNA-1 also encodes P15, which is expressed via a subgenomic RNA. To investigate the role of P15, we analyzed RNA accumulation in tobacco BY-2 protoplasts inoculated with RNA-1 containing mutations in P15. For all the mutants, the amount of progeny RNA-1 produced was significantly lower than that obtained for wild-type RNA-1. If RNA-2 was included in the inoculum, the accumulation of both progeny RNAs was diminished, but near-normal yields of both could be recovered if the inoculum was supplemented with a small, chimeric viral replicon expressing P15, demonstrating that P15 has an effect on viral RNA accumulation. To further analyze the role of P15, transcripts were produced expressing P15 fused to enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). Following inoculation to protoplasts, epifluorescence microscopy revealed that P15 accumulated as spots around the nucleus and in the cytoplasm. Intracellular sites of viral RNA synthesis were visualized by laser scanning confocal microscopy of infected protoplasts labeled with 5-bromouridine 5'-triphosphate (BrUTP). BrUTP labeling also occurred in spots distributed within the cytoplasm and around the nucleus. However, the BrUTP-labeled RNA and EGFP/P15 very rarely colocalized, suggesting that P15 does not act primarily at sites of viral replication but intervenes indirectly to control viral accumulation levels.

Arachis↗

A comparison between the phenol-chloroform method of RNA extraction and the QIAamp viral RNA kit in the extraction of hepatitis C and GB virus-C/hepatitis G viral RNA from serum.

Viral RNAs are detected commonly in serum by hybridization and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods for both clinical and research purposes. Two methods of extracting viral RNA were evaluated prior to amplification by PCR. One was a conventional phenol-chloroform method and the other used a standardized, manufactured kit. The efficiency of extraction was tested by semi-quantitative amplification of hepatitis C viral and GB virus-C/hepatitis G viral RNAs. The standarized commercial method, although more time efficient, resulted in an approximately ten fold less sensitivity. Thus, in situations where maximum sensitivity is needed, the more labor intenstive phenol choloroform method is recommended.

Chloroform↗

Completion of RNA synthesis by viral RNA replicases.

How the 5'-terminus of the template affects RNA synthesis by viral RNA replicases is poorly understood. Using short DNA, RNA and RNA-DNA chimeric templates that can direct synthesis of replicase products, we found that DNA templates tend to direct the synthesis of RNA products that are shorter by 1 nt in comparison to RNA templates. Template-length RNA synthesis was also affected by the concentration of nucleoside triphosphates, the identity of the bases at specific positions close to the 5'-terminus and the C2'-hydroxyl of a ribose at the third nucleotide from the 5'-terminal nucleotide. Similar requirements are observed with two bromoviral replicases, but not with a recombinant RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. These results begin to define the interactions needed for the viral replicase to complete synthesis of viral RNA.

Base Sequence↗

Epstein-Barr virus RNA. VI. Viral RNA in restringently and abortively infected Raji cells.

Nuclear and polyadenylated RNA fractions of Raji cells are encoded by larger fractions of Epstein-Barr virus DNA (35 and 18%, respectively) than encode polyribosomal RNA (10%). Polyribosomal RNA is encoded by DNA mapping at 0.05 X 10(8) to 0.29 X 10(8), 0.63 X 10(8) to 0.66 X 10(8), and 1.10 X 10(8) to 0.03 X 10(8) daltons. An abundant, small (160-base), non-polyadenylated RNA encoded by EcoRI fragment J (0.05 X 10(8) to 0.07 X 10(8) daltons) is also present in the cytoplasm of Raji cells. After induction of early antigen in Raji cells, there was a substantial increase in the complexity of viral polyadenylated and polyribosomal RNAs. Thus, nuclear RNA was encoded by 40% of Epstein-Barr virus DNA, and polyadenylated and polyribosomal RNAs were encoded by at least 30% of Epstein-Barr virus DNA. Polyribosomal RNA from induced Raji cells was encoded by Epstein-Barr virus DNAs mapping at 0.05 X 10(8) to 0.29 X 10(8), 0.63 X 10(8) to 0.66 X 10(8), and 1.10 X 10(8) to 0.03 X 10(8) daltons and also by DNAs mapping within the long unique regions of Epstein-Barr virus DNA at 0.39 X 10(8) to 0.49 X 10(8), 0.51 X 10(8) to 0.59 X 10(8), 0.66 X 10(8) to 0.77 X 10(8), and 1.02 X 10(8) to 1.05 X 10(8) daltons.

Burkitt Lymphoma↗

Quantitation of HIV-1-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes and plasma load of viral RNA.

Although cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) are thought to be involved in the control of human immunodeficiency virus-type 1 (HIV-1) infection, it has not been possible to demonstrate a direct relation between CTL activity and plasma RNA viral load. Human leukocyte antigen-peptide tetrameric complexes offer a specific means to directly quantitate circulating CTLs ex vivo. With the use of the tetrameric complexes, a significant inverse correlation was observed between HIV-specific CTL frequency and plasma RNA viral load. In contrast, no significant association was detected between the clearance rate of productively infected cells and frequency of HIV-specific CTLs. These data are consistent with a significant role for HIV-specific CTLs in the control of HIV infection and suggest a considerable cytopathic effect of the virus in vivo.

Anti-HIV Agents↗

A novel in vitro replication system for Dengue virus. Initiation of RNA synthesis at the 3'-end of exogenous viral RNA templates requires 5'- and 3'-terminal complementary sequence motifs of the viral RNA.

Positive strand viral replicases are membrane-bound complexes of viral and host proteins. The mechanism of viral replication and the role of host proteins are not well understood. To understand this mechanism, a viral replicase assay that utilizes extracts from dengue virus-infected mosquito (C6/36) cells and exogenous viral RNA templates is reported in this study. The 5'- and 3'-terminal regions (TR) of the template RNAs contain the conserved elements including the complementary (cyclization) motifs and stem-loop structures. RNA synthesis in vitro requires both 5'- and 3'-TR present in the same template molecule or when the 5'-TR RNA was added in trans to the 3'-untranslated region (UTR) RNA. However, the 3'-UTR RNA alone is not active. RNA synthesis occurs by elongation of the 3'-end of the template RNA to yield predominantly a double-stranded hairpin-like RNA product, twice the size of the template RNA. These results suggest that an interaction between 5'- and 3'-TR of the viral RNA that modulates the 3'-UTR RNA structure is required for RNA synthesis by the viral replicase. The complementary cyclization motifs of the viral genome also seem to play an important role in this interaction.

3' Untranslated Regions↗

An umbraviral protein, involved in long-distance RNA movement, binds viral RNA and forms unique, protective ribonucleoprotein complexes.

Umbraviruses are different from most other viruses in that they do not encode a conventional capsid protein (CP); therefore, no recognizable virus particles are formed in infected plants. Their lack of a CP is compensated for by the ORF3 protein, which fulfils functions that are provided by the CPs of other viruses, such as protection and long-distance movement of viral RNA. When the Groundnut rosette virus (GRV) ORF3 protein was expressed from Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) in place of the TMV CP [TMV(ORF3)], in infected cells it interacted with the TMV RNA to form filamentous ribonucleoprotein (RNP) particles that had elements of helical structure but were not as uniform as classical virions. These RNP particles were observed in amorphous inclusions in the cytoplasm, where they were embedded within an electron-dense matrix material. The inclusions were detected in all types of cells and were abundant in phloem-associated cells, in particular companion cells and immature sieve elements. RNP-containing complexes similar in appearance to the inclusions were isolated from plants infected with TMV(ORF3) or with GRV itself. In vitro, the ORF3 protein formed oligomers and bound RNA in a manner consistent with its role in the formation of RNP complexes. It is suggested that the cytoplasmic RNP complexes formed by the ORF3 protein serve to protect viral RNA and may be the form in which it moves through the phloem. Thus, the RNP particles detected here represent a novel structure which may be used by umbraviruses as an alternative to classical virions.

Arachis↗