Novel cis-acting element within the capsid-coding region enhances flavivirus viral-RNA replication by regulating genome cyclization

J Virol. 2013 Jun;87(12):6804-18. doi: 10.1128/JVI.00243-13. Epub 2013 Apr 10.

Abstract

cis-Acting elements in the viral genome RNA (vRNA) are essential for the translation, replication, and/or encapsidation of RNA viruses. In this study, a novel conserved cis-acting element was identified in the capsid-coding region of mosquito-borne flavivirus. The downstream of 5' cyclization sequence (5'CS) pseudoknot (DCS-PK) element has a three-stem pseudoknot structure, as demonstrated by structure prediction and biochemical analysis. Using dengue virus as a model, we show that DCS-PK enhances vRNA replication and that its function depends on its secondary structure and specific primary sequence. Mutagenesis revealed that the highly conserved stem 1 and loop 2, which are involved in potential loop-helix interactions, are crucial for DCS-PK function. A predicted loop 1-stem 3 base triple interaction is important for the structural stability and function of DCS-PK. Moreover, the function of DCS-PK depends on its position relative to the 5'CS, and the presence of DCS-PK facilitates the formation of 5'-3' RNA complexes. Taken together, our results reveal that the cis-acting element DCS-PK enhances vRNA replication by regulating genome cyclization, and DCS-PK might interplay with other cis-acting elements to form a functional vRNA cyclization domain, thus playing critical roles during the flavivirus life cycle and evolution.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Capsid / chemistry*
  • Capsid / metabolism
  • Capsid Proteins / chemistry
  • Capsid Proteins / genetics
  • Capsid Proteins / metabolism
  • Dengue Virus / chemistry
  • Dengue Virus / genetics
  • Dengue Virus / metabolism
  • Enhancer Elements, Genetic* / genetics
  • Flavivirus / classification
  • Flavivirus / genetics*
  • Flavivirus / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Viral*
  • Genome, Viral / genetics*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation
  • RNA, Viral / genetics
  • RNA, Viral / metabolism*
  • Virus Replication*

Substances

  • Capsid Proteins
  • RNA, Viral