5m5b
Crystal structure of Zika virus NS5 methyltransferase
Structural highlights
FunctionPOLG_ZIKVF Capsid protein C: Plays a role in virus budding by binding to the cell membrane and gathering the viral RNA into a nucleocapsid that forms the core of a mature virus particle. During virus entry, may induce genome penetration into the host cytoplasm after hemifusion induced by the surface proteins. Can migrate to the cell nucleus where it modulates host functions.[UniProtKB:P17763] Capsid protein C: Inhibits RNA silencing by interfering with host Dicer.[UniProtKB:P03314] Peptide pr: Prevents premature fusion activity of envelope proteins in trans-Golgi by binding to envelope protein E at pH6.0. After virion release in extracellular space, gets dissociated from E dimers.[UniProtKB:P17763] Protein prM: Plays a role in host immune defense modulation and protection of envelope protein E during virion synthesis. PrM-E cleavage is ineficient, and immature prM-E proteins could have an activity against host immune response. The sequence of PrM contributes to fetal microcephaly in Humans. Acts as a chaperone for envelope protein E during intracellular virion assembly by masking and inactivating envelope protein E fusion peptide. prM is the only viral peptide matured by host furin in the trans-Golgi network probably to avoid catastrophic activation of the viral fusion activity in acidic Golgi compartment prior to virion release. prM-E cleavage is inefficient, and many virions are only partially matured. These uncleaved prM could play a role in immune evasion.[UniProtKB:P17763][1] Small envelope protein M: May play a role in virus budding. Exerts cytotoxic effects by activating a mitochondrial apoptotic pathway through M ectodomain. May display a viroporin activity.[UniProtKB:P17763] Envelope protein E: Binds to host cell surface receptor and mediates fusion between viral and cellular membranes. Envelope protein is synthesized in the endoplasmic reticulum in the form of heterodimer with protein prM. They play a role in virion budding in the ER, and the newly formed immature particule is covered with 60 spikes composed of heterodimer between precursor prM and envelope protein E. The virion is transported to the Golgi apparatus where the low pH causes dissociation of PrM-E heterodimers and formation of E homodimers. prM-E cleavage is inefficient, and many virions are only partially matured. These uncleaved prM could play a role in immune evasion.[UniProtKB:P17763] Non-structural protein 1: Involved in immune evasion, pathogenesis and viral replication. Once cleaved off the polyprotein, is targeted to three destinations: the viral replication cycle, the plasma membrane and the extracellular compartment. Essential for viral replication. Required for formation of the replication complex and recruitment of other non-structural proteins to the ER-derived membrane structures. Excreted as a hexameric lipoparticle that plays a role against host immune response. Antagonizing the complement function. Binds to the host macrophages and dendritic cells. Inhibits signal transduction originating from Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3).[UniProtKB:Q9Q6P4] Non-structural protein 2A: Component of the viral RNA replication complex that functions in virion assembly and antagonizes the host alpha/beta interferon antiviral response (By similarity). Disrupts adherens junction formation and thereby impairs proliferation of radial cells in both embryonic mouse cortex and human forebrain organoids (PubMed:28826723).[UniProtKB:P14335][2] Non-structural protein 2B: Required cofactor for the serine protease function of NS3.[UniProtKB:Q32ZE1] Serine protease NS3: Displays three enzymatic activities: serine protease, NTPase and RNA helicase. NS3 serine protease, in association with NS2B, performs its autocleavage and cleaves the polyprotein at dibasic sites in the cytoplasm: C-prM, NS2A-NS2B, NS2B-NS3, NS3-NS4A, NS4A-2K and NS4B-NS5. NS3 RNA helicase binds RNA and unwinds dsRNA in the 3' to 5' direction (By similarity). Leads to translation arrest when expressed ex vivo (PubMed:28592527).[UniProtKB:Q32ZE1][3] Non-structural protein 4A: Regulates the ATPase activity of the NS3 helicase activity. NS4A allows NS3 helicase to conserve energy during unwinding (By similarity). Cooperatively with NS4B suppress the Akt-mTOR pathway and lead to cellular dysregulation (PubMed:27524440). Leads to translation arrest when expressed ex vivo (PubMed:28592527).[UniProtKB:Q9Q6P4][4] [5] Peptide 2k: Functions as a signal peptide for NS4B and is required for the interferon antagonism activity of the latter. Non-structural protein 4B: Induces the formation of ER-derived membrane vesicles where the viral replication takes place. Inhibits interferon (IFN)-induced host STAT1 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation, thereby preventing the establishment of cellular antiviral state by blocking the IFN-alpha/beta pathway. Inhibits STAT2 translocation in the nucleus after IFN-alpha treatment (By similarity). Cooperatively with NS4A suppress the Akt-mTOR pathway and lead to cellular dysregulation (PubMed:27524440).[UniProtKB:Q9Q6P4][6] RNA-directed RNA polymerase NS5: Replicates the viral (+) and (-) RNA genome, and performs the capping of genomes in the cytoplasm. NS5 methylates viral RNA cap at guanine N-7 and ribose 2'-O positions. Besides its role in RNA genome replication, also prevents the establishment of cellular antiviral state by blocking the interferon-alpha/beta (IFN-alpha/beta) signaling pathway. Inhibits host TYK2 and STAT2 phosphorylation, thereby preventing activation of JAK-STAT signaling pathway.[UniProtKB:Q9Q6P4] Publication Abstract from PubMedThe Flavivirus Zika virus (ZIKV) is the causing agent of neurological disorders like microcephaly in newborns or Guillain-Barre syndrome. Its NS5 protein embeds a methyltransferase (MTase) domain involved in the formation of the viral mRNA cap. We investigated the structural and functional properties of the ZIKV MTase. We show that the ZIKV MTase can methylate RNA cap structures at the N7 position of the cap, and at the 2' O position on the ribose of the first nucleotide, yielding a cap-1 structure. In addition, the ZIKV MTase methylates the ribose 2' -O position of internal adenosines of RNA substrates. Crystal structure of the ZIKV MTase determined at 2.01 A resolution reveals a crystallographic homodimer. One chain is bound to the methyl-donor (SAM) and shows a high structural similarity to the Dengue virus (DENV) MTase. The second chain lacks SAM and displays conformational changes in the alphaX alpha-helix contributing to the SAM and RNA binding. These conformational modifications reveal a possible molecular mechanism of the enzymatic turnover involving a conserved Ser/Arg motif. In the second chain, the SAM binding site accommodates a sulphate close to a glycerol that could serve as a basis for structure-based drug design. In addition, compounds known to inhibit the DENV MTase show similar inhibition potency on the ZIKV MTase. Altogether these results contribute to a better understanding of the ZIKV MTase, a central player in viral replication and host innate immune response, and lay the basis development of potential antiviral drugs. IMPORTANCE: The Zika virus (ZIKV) is associated with microcephaly in newborns, and other neurological disorders such Guillain-Barre syndrome. It is urgent to developed antiviral strategies inhibiting the viral replication. The ZIKV NS5 embeds a methyltransferase involved in the viral mRNA capping process, which is essential for viral replication and control of virus detection by innate immune mechanisms. We demonstrate that the ZIKV methyltransferase methylates the mRNA cap and adenosines located into RNA sequences. The structure of ZIKV methyltransferase shows high structural similarities with the dengue virus methytransferase, but conformational specificities highlight the role of a conserved Ser/Arg motif, which participates to RNA and SAM recognition during the reaction turnover. In addition, the SAM binding site accommodates a sulphate and a glycerol, offering structural information to initiate structure based drug design. Altogether, these results contribute to a better understanding of the Flavivirus methytransferases, which are central players in the virus replication. The Zika virus methyltransferase: structure and functions for drug design perspectives.,Coutard B, Barral K, Lichiere J, Selisko B, Martin B, Aouadi W, Ortiz Lombardia M, Debart F, Vasseur JJ, Guillemot JC, Canard B, Decroly E J Virol. 2016 Dec 28. pii: JVI.02202-16. doi: 10.1128/JVI.02202-16. PMID:28031359[7] From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. References
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