The C-terminal nsP1a protein of human astrovirus is a phosphoprotein that interacts with the viral polymerase

J Virol. 2011 May;85(9):4470-9. doi: 10.1128/JVI.01515-10. Epub 2011 Feb 16.

Abstract

Human astrovirus nonstructural C-terminal nsP1a protein (nsP1a/4) colocalizes with the endoplasmic reticulum and viral RNA. It has been suggested that nsP1a/4 protein is involved in the RNA replication process in endoplasmic reticulum-derived intracellular membranes. A hypervariable region (HVR) is contained in the nsP1a/4 protein, and different replicative patterns can be distinguished depending on its variability. In the present work, both the astrovirus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and four types (IV, V, VI, and XII) of nsP1a/4 proteins have been cloned and expressed in the baculovirus system to analyze their interactions. Different isoforms of each of the nsP1a/4 proteins exist: a nonphosphorylated isoform and different phosphorylated isoforms. While the polymerase accumulates as a monomer, the nsP1a/4 proteins accumulate as oligomers. The oligomerization domain of nsP1a/4-V is mapped between residues 176 and 209. For all studied genotypes, oligomers mainly contain the nonphosphorylated isoform. When RNA polymerase is coexpressed with nsP1a/4 proteins, they interact, likely forming heterodimers. The polymerase binding region has been mapped in the nsP1a/4-V protein between residues 88 and 176. Phosphorylated isoforms of nsP1a/4 type VI show a stronger interactive pattern with the polymerase than the nonphosphorylated isoform. This difference is not observed in genotypes IV and V, suggesting a role of the HVR in modulating the interaction of the nsP1a/4 protein with the polymerase through phosphorylation/dephosphorylation of some critical residues.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Baculoviridae / genetics
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression
  • Humans
  • Mamastrovirus / physiology*
  • Phosphoproteins / metabolism*
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Interaction Mapping*
  • Protein Multimerization
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Phosphoproteins
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins
  • DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases