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Current Issues in Molecular Biology 2021Alphaherpesvirus tegument assembly, secondary envelopment, and exocytosis processes are understood in broad strokes, but many of the individual steps in this pathway,...
Alphaherpesvirus tegument assembly, secondary envelopment, and exocytosis processes are understood in broad strokes, but many of the individual steps in this pathway, and their molecular and cell biological details, remain unclear. Viral tegument and membrane proteins form an extensive and robust protein interaction network, such that essentially any structural protein can be deleted, yet particles are still assembled, enveloped, and released from infected cells. We conceptually divide the tegument proteins into three groups: conserved inner and outer teguments that participate in nucleocapsid and membrane contacts, respectively; and 'middle' tegument proteins, consisting of some of the most abundant tegument proteins that serve as central hubs in the protein interaction network, yet which are unique to the alphaherpesviruses. We then discuss secondary envelopment, reviewing the tegument-membrane contacts and cellular factors that drive this process. We place this viral process in the context of cell biological processes, including the endocytic pathway, ESCRT machinery, autophagy, secretory pathway, intracellular transport, and exocytosis mechanisms. Finally, we speculate about potential relationships between cellular defenses against oligomerizing or aggregating membrane proteins and the envelopment and egress of viruses.
Topics: Alphaherpesvirinae; Autophagy; Biological Transport; Endosomal Sorting Complexes Required for Transport; Exocytosis; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Humans; Virus Assembly; Virus Physiological Phenomena; Virus Release
PubMed: 33622984
DOI: 10.21775/cimb.042.551 -
Advances in Anatomy, Embryology, and... 2017Herpes simplex virus type I (HSV-1) is the causative agent of several pathologies ranging in severity from the common cold sore to life-threatening encephalitic... (Review)
Review
Herpes simplex virus type I (HSV-1) is the causative agent of several pathologies ranging in severity from the common cold sore to life-threatening encephalitic infection. During productive lytic infection, over 80 viral proteins are expressed in a highly regulated manner, resulting in the replication of viral genomes and assembly of progeny virions. The virion of all herpesviruses consists of an external membrane envelope, a proteinaceous layer called the tegument, and an icosahedral capsid containing the double-stranded linear DNA genome. The capsid shell of HSV-1 is built from four structural proteins: a major capsid protein, VP5, which forms the capsomers (hexons and pentons), the triplex consisting of VP19C and VP23 found between the capsomers, and VP26 which binds to VP5 on hexons but not pentons. In addition, the dodecameric pUL6 portal complex occupies 1 of the 12 capsid vertices, and the capsid vertex specific component (CVSC), a heterotrimer complex of pUL17, pUL25, and pUL36, binds specifically to the triplexes adjacent to each penton. The capsid is assembled in the nucleus where the viral genome is packaged into newly assembled closed capsid shells. Cleavage and packaging of replicated, concatemeric viral DNA requires the seven viral proteins encoded by the UL6, UL15, UL17, UL25, UL28, UL32, and UL33 genes. Considerable advances have been made in understanding the structure of the herpesvirus capsid and the function of several of the DNA packaging proteins by applying biochemical, genetic, and structural techniques. This review is a summary of recent advances with respect to the structure of the HSV-1 virion capsid and what is known about the function of the seven packaging proteins and their interactions with each other and with the capsid shell.
Topics: Animals; Capsid; DNA Packaging; Herpesviridae; Humans; Viral Proteins; Virion; Virus Assembly
PubMed: 28528442
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-53168-7_6 -
Viruses Aug 2014Maturation is an intrinsic phase of the viral life cycle and is often intertwined with egress. In this review we focus on orbivirus maturation by using Bluetongue virus... (Review)
Review
Maturation is an intrinsic phase of the viral life cycle and is often intertwined with egress. In this review we focus on orbivirus maturation by using Bluetongue virus (BTV) as a representative. BTV, a member of the genus Orbivirus within the family Reoviridae, has over the last three decades been subjected to intense molecular study and is thus one of the best understood viruses. BTV is a non-enveloped virus comprised of two concentric protein shells that encapsidate 10 double-stranded RNA genome segments. Upon cell entry, the outer capsid is shed, releasing the core which does not disassemble into the cytoplasm. The polymerase complex within the core then synthesizes transcripts from each genome segment and extrudes these into the cytoplasm where they act as templates for protein synthesis. Newly synthesized ssRNA then associates with the replicase complex prior to encapsidation by inner and outer protein layers of core within virus-triggered inclusion bodies. Maturation of core occurs outside these inclusion bodies (IBs) via the addition of the outer capsid proteins, which appears to be coupled to a non-lytic, exocytic pathway during early infection. Similar to the enveloped viruses, BTV hijacks the exocytosis and endosomal sorting complex required for trafficking (ESCRT) pathway via a non-structural glycoprotein. This exquisitely detailed understanding is assembled from a broad array of assays, spanning numerous and diverse in vitro and in vivo studies. Presented here are the detailed insights of BTV maturation and egress.
Topics: Biological Transport; Bluetongue virus; Capsid; Exocytosis; Inclusion Bodies, Viral; Virus Assembly; Virus Release
PubMed: 25196482
DOI: 10.3390/v6083250 -
FEBS Letters Jul 2016Replication and spread of human viruses is based on the simultaneous exploitation of many different host functions, bridging multiple scales in space and time.... (Review)
Review
Replication and spread of human viruses is based on the simultaneous exploitation of many different host functions, bridging multiple scales in space and time. Mathematical modeling is essential to obtain a systems-level understanding of how human viruses manage to proceed through their life cycles. Here, we review corresponding advances for viral systems of large medical relevance, such as human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) and hepatitis C virus (HCV). We will outline how the combination of mathematical models and experimental data has advanced our quantitative knowledge about various processes of these pathogens, and how novel quantitative approaches promise to fill remaining gaps.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Models, Biological; Organ Specificity; Virus Assembly; Virus Internalization; Virus Replication
PubMed: 26878104
DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.12095 -
Viruses Sep 2015Alphaherpesviruses like herpes simplex virus are large DNA viruses characterized by their ability to establish lifelong latent infection in neurons. As for all... (Review)
Review
Alphaherpesviruses like herpes simplex virus are large DNA viruses characterized by their ability to establish lifelong latent infection in neurons. As for all herpesviruses, alphaherpesvirus virions contain a protein-rich layer called "tegument" that links the DNA-containing capsid to the glycoprotein-studded membrane envelope. Tegument proteins mediate a diverse range of functions during the virus lifecycle, including modulation of the host-cell environment immediately after entry, transport of virus capsids to the nucleus during infection, and wrapping of cytoplasmic capsids with membranes (secondary envelopment) during virion assembly. Eleven tegument proteins that are conserved across alphaherpesviruses have been implicated in the formation of the tegument layer or in secondary envelopment. Tegument is assembled via a dense network of interactions between tegument proteins, with the redundancy of these interactions making it challenging to determine the precise function of any specific tegument protein. However, recent studies have made great headway in defining the interactions between tegument proteins, conserved across alphaherpesviruses, which facilitate tegument assembly and secondary envelopment. We summarize these recent advances and review what remains to be learned about the molecular interactions required to assemble mature alphaherpesvirus virions following the release of capsids from infected cell nuclei.
Topics: Alphaherpesvirinae; Models, Biological; Protein Binding; Viral Structural Proteins; Virus Assembly
PubMed: 26393641
DOI: 10.3390/v7092861 -
MBio Oct 2019The flavivirus virion consists of an envelope outer layer, formed by envelope (E) and membrane (M) proteins on a lipid bilayer, and an internal core, formed by capsid...
The flavivirus virion consists of an envelope outer layer, formed by envelope (E) and membrane (M) proteins on a lipid bilayer, and an internal core, formed by capsid (C) protein and genomic RNA. The molecular mechanism of flavivirus assembly is not well understood. Here, we show that Zika virus (ZIKV) NS2A protein recruits genomic RNA, the structural protein prM/E complex, and the NS2B/NS3 protease complex to the virion assembly site and orchestrates virus morphogenesis. Coimmunoprecipitation analysis showed that ZIKV NS2A binds to prM, E, NS2B, and NS3 (but not C, NS4B, or NS5) in a viral RNA-independent manner, whereas prM/E complex does not interact with NS2B/NS3 complex. Remarkably, a single-amino-acid mutation (E103A) of NS2A impairs its binding to prM/E and NS2B/NS3 and abolishes virus production, demonstrating the indispensable role of NS2A/prM/E and NS2A/NS2B/NS3 interactions in virion assembly. In addition, RNA-protein pulldown analysis identified a stem-loop RNA from the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of the viral genome as an "RNA recruitment signal" for ZIKV assembly. The 3' UTR RNA binds to a cytoplasmic loop of NS2A protein. Mutations of two positively charged residues (R96A and R102A) from the cytoplasmic loop reduce NS2A binding to viral RNA, leading to a complete loss of virion assembly. Collectively, our results support a virion assembly model in which NS2A recruits viral NS2B/NS3 protease and structural C-prM-E polyprotein to the virion assembly site; once the C-prM-E polyprotein has been processed, NS2A presents viral RNA to the structural proteins for virion assembly. ZIKV is a recently emerged mosquito-borne flavivirus that can cause devastating congenital Zika syndrome in pregnant women and Guillain-Barré syndrome in adults. The molecular mechanism of ZIKV virion assembly is largely unknown. Here, we report that ZIKV NS2A plays a central role in recruiting viral RNA, structural protein prM/E, and viral NS2B/NS3 protease to the virion assembly site and orchestrating virion morphogenesis. One mutation that impairs these interactions does not significantly affect viral RNA replication but selectively abolishes virion assembly, demonstrating the specific role of these interactions in virus morphogenesis. We also show that the 3' UTR of ZIKV RNA may serve as a "recruitment signal" through binding to NS2A to enter the virion assembly site. Following a coordinated cleavage of C-prM-E at the virion assembly site, NS2A may present the viral RNA to C protein for nucleocapsid formation followed by envelopment with prM/E proteins. The results have provided new insights into flavivirus virion assembly.
Topics: Female; Flavivirus; Genome, Viral; Humans; Mutation; Nucleocapsid; Peptide Hydrolases; Pregnancy; RNA, Viral; Serine Endopeptidases; Viral Envelope Proteins; Viral Nonstructural Proteins; Viral Proteins; Virus Assembly; Virus Replication; Zika Virus; Zika Virus Infection
PubMed: 31662457
DOI: 10.1128/mBio.02375-19 -
Viruses Dec 2021Understanding the molecular mechanisms of retroviral assembly has been a decades-long endeavor. With the recent discovery of inositol hexakisphosphate (IP6) acting as an... (Review)
Review
Understanding the molecular mechanisms of retroviral assembly has been a decades-long endeavor. With the recent discovery of inositol hexakisphosphate (IP6) acting as an assembly co-factor for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), great strides have been made in retroviral research. In this review, the enzymatic pathways to synthesize and metabolize inositol phosphates (IPs) relevant to retroviral assembly are discussed. The functions of these enzymes and IPs are outlined in the context of the cellular biology important for retroviruses. Lastly, the recent advances in understanding the role of IPs in retroviral biology are surveyed.
Topics: Biosynthetic Pathways; HIV Infections; Humans; Inositol Phosphates; Phytic Acid; Retroviridae; Virion; Virus Assembly; gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
PubMed: 34960784
DOI: 10.3390/v13122516 -
Microbiology and Molecular Biology... Sep 2022Negative-sense RNA virus populations are composed of diverse viral components that interact to form a community and shape the outcome of virus infections. At the genomic... (Review)
Review
Negative-sense RNA virus populations are composed of diverse viral components that interact to form a community and shape the outcome of virus infections. At the genomic level, RNA virus populations consist not only of a homogeneous population of standard viral genomes but also of an extremely large number of genome variants, termed viral quasispecies, and nonstandard viral genomes, which include copy-back viral genomes, deletion viral genomes, mini viral RNAs, and hypermutated RNAs. At the particle level, RNA virus populations are composed of pleomorphic particles, particles missing or having additional genomes, and single particles or particle aggregates. As we continue discovering more about the components of negative-sense RNA virus populations and their crucial functions during virus infection, it will become more important to study RNA virus populations as a whole rather than their individual parts. In this review, we will discuss what is known about the components of negative-sense RNA virus communities, speculate how the components of the virus community interact, and summarize what vaccines and antiviral therapies are being currently developed to target or harness these components.
Topics: Antiviral Agents; Genome, Viral; Negative-Sense RNA Viruses; RNA Viruses; RNA, Viral; Virus Assembly
PubMed: 35658541
DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00086-21 -
ACS Nano Apr 2020Understanding viral assembly pathways is of critical importance to biology, medicine, and nanotechology. Here, we study the assembly path of a system with various...
Understanding viral assembly pathways is of critical importance to biology, medicine, and nanotechology. Here, we study the assembly path of a system with various structures, the simian vacuolating virus 40 (SV40) polymorphs. We simulate the templated assembly process of VP1 pentamers, which are the constituents of SV40, into icosahedal shells made of = 12 pentamers ( = 1). The simulations include connections formed between pentamers by C-terminal flexible lateral units, termed here "C-terminal ligands", which are shown to control assembly behavior and shell dynamics. The model also incorporates electrostatic attractions between the N-terminal peptide strands (ligands) and the negatively charged cargo, allowing for agreement with experiments of RNA templated assembly at various pH and ionic conditions. During viral assembly, pentamers bound to any template increase its effective size due to the length and flexibility of the C-terminal ligands, which can connect to other VP1 pentamers and recruit them to a partially completed capsid. All closed shells formed other than the = 1 feature the ability to dynamically rearrange and are thus termed "pseudo-closed". The = 13 shell can even spontaneously "self-correct" by losing a pentamer and become a = 1 capsid when the template size fluctuates. Bound pentamers recruiting additional pentamers to dynamically rearranging capsids allow closed shells to continue growing the pseudo-closed growth mechanism, for which experimental evidence already exists. Overall, we show that the C-terminal ligands control the dynamic assembly paths of SV40 polymorphs.
Topics: Capsid; Capsid Proteins; Simian virus 40; Virus Assembly
PubMed: 32208635
DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.9b10004 -
Current Opinion in Virology Dec 2020Viral structural proteins are emerging as effective targets for new antivirals. In a viral lifecycle, the capsid must assemble, disassemble, and respond to host... (Review)
Review
Viral structural proteins are emerging as effective targets for new antivirals. In a viral lifecycle, the capsid must assemble, disassemble, and respond to host proteins, all at the right time and place. These reactions work within a narrow range of conditions, making them susceptible to small molecule interference. In at least three specific viruses, this approach has had met with preliminary success. In rhinovirus and poliovirus, compounds like pleconaril bind capsid and block RNA release. Bevirimat binds to Gag protein in HIV, inhibiting maturation. In Hepatitis B virus, core protein allosteric modulators (CpAMs) promote spontaneous assembly of capsid protein leading to empty and aberrant particles. Despite the biological diversity between viruses and the chemical diversity between antiviral molecules, we observe common features in these antivirals' mechanisms of action. These approaches work by stabilizing protein-protein interactions.
Topics: Antiviral Agents; Capsid; Drug Discovery; Hepatitis B virus; Viral Structural Proteins; Virus Assembly; Virus Replication; Viruses
PubMed: 32777753
DOI: 10.1016/j.coviro.2020.07.001