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CryoEM structure of the Chikungunya virus nsP1 capping pores in complex with m7GTP and SAH ligands
Structural highlights
FunctionPOLN_CHIKS P123 is short-lived polyproteins, accumulating during early stage of infection. It localizes the viral replication complex to the cytoplasmic surface of modified endosomes and lysosomes. By interacting with nsP4, it starts viral genome replication into antigenome. After these early events, P123 is cleaved sequentially into nsP1, nsP2 and nsP3. This sequence of delayed processing would allow correct assembly and membrane association of the RNA polymerase complex (By similarity). nsP1 is a cytoplasmic capping enzyme. This function is necessary since all viral RNAs are synthesized in the cytoplasm, and host capping enzymes are restricted to the nucleus. The enzymatic reaction involves a covalent link between 7-methyl-GMP and nsP1, whereas eukaryotic capping enzymes form a covalent complex only with GMP. nsP1 capping would consist in the following reactions: GTP is first methylated and then forms the m7GMp-nsP1 complex, from which 7-methyl-GMP complex is transferred to the mRNA to create the cap structure. Palmitoylated nsP1 is remodeling host cell cytoskeleton, and induces filopodium-like structure formation at the surface of the host cell (By similarity). nsP2 has two separate domain with different biological activities. The N-terminal section is part of the RNA polymerase complex and has RNA trisphosphatase and RNA helicase activity. The C-terminal section harbors a protease that specifically cleaves and releases the four mature proteins (By similarity). Also inhibits cellular transcription by inducing rapid degradation of POLR2A, a catalytic subunit of the RNAPII complex. The resulting inhibition of cellular protein synthesis serves to ensure maximal viral gene expression and to evade host immune response. nsP3 is essential for minus strand and subgenomic 26S mRNA synthesis (By similarity). nsP4 is an RNA dependent RNA polymerase. It replicates genomic and antigenomic RNA by recognizing replications specific signals. Transcribes also a 26S subgenomic mRNA by initiating RNA synthesis internally on antigenomic RNA. This 26S mRNA codes for structural proteins (By similarity). Publication Abstract from PubMedAlphaviruses are emerging positive-stranded RNA viruses which replicate and transcribe their genomes in membranous organelles formed in the cell cytoplasm. The nonstructural protein 1 (nsP1) is responsible for viral RNA capping and gates the replication organelles by assembling into monotopic membrane-associated dodecameric pores. The capping pathway is unique to Alphaviruses; beginning with the N(7) methylation of a guanosine triphosphate (GTP) molecule, followed by the covalent linkage of an m(7)GMP group to a conserved histidine in nsP1 and the transfer of this cap structure to a diphosphate RNA. Here, we provide structural snapshots of different stages of the reaction pathway showing how nsP1 pores recognize the substrates of the methyl-transfer reaction, GTP and S-adenosyl methionine (SAM), how the enzyme reaches a metastable postmethylation state with SAH and m(7)GTP in the active site, and the subsequent covalent transfer of m(7)GMP to nsP1 triggered by the presence of RNA and postdecapping reaction conformational changes inducing the opening of the pore. In addition, we biochemically characterize the capping reaction, demonstrating specificity for the RNA substrate and the reversibility of the cap transfer resulting in decapping activity and the release of reaction intermediates. Our data identify the molecular determinants allowing each pathway transition, providing an explanation for the need for the SAM methyl donor all along the pathway and clues about the conformational rearrangements associated to the enzymatic activity of nsP1. Together, our results set ground for the structural and functional understanding of alphavirus RNA-capping and the design of antivirals. Structural basis and dynamics of Chikungunya alphavirus RNA capping by nsP1 capping pores.,Jones R, Hons M, Rabah N, Zamarreno N, Arranz R, Reguera J Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2023 Mar 21;120(12):e2213934120. doi: , 10.1073/pnas.2213934120. Epub 2023 Mar 13. PMID:36913573[1] From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. References
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