Crystal structures of murine norovirus-1 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase in complex with 2-thiouridine or ribavirin

Virology. 2012 May 10;426(2):143-51. doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2012.01.016. Epub 2012 Feb 16.

Abstract

Murine norovirus-1 (MNV-1) shares many features with human norovirus (HuNoV) and both are classified within the norovirus genus of Caliciviridae family. MNV-1 is used as the surrogate for HuNoV research since it is the only form that can be grown in cell culture. HuNoV and MNV-1 RNA dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) proteins with the sequence identity of 59% show essentially identical conformations. Here we report the first structural evidence of 2-thiouridine (2TU) or ribavirin binding to MNV-1 RdRp, based on the crystal structures determined at 2.2Å and 2.5Å resolutions, respectively. Cellular and biochemical studies revealed stronger inhibitory effect of 2TU on the replication of MNV-1 in RAW 264.7 cells, compared to that of ribavirin. Our complex structures highlight the key interactions involved in recognition of the nucleoside analogs which block the active site of the viral RNA polymerase.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Binding Sites
  • Cell Line
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Mice
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Norovirus / chemistry
  • Norovirus / enzymology*
  • Norovirus / genetics
  • Norovirus / physiology
  • Protein Binding
  • RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase / chemistry*
  • RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase / genetics
  • RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase / metabolism*
  • Ribavirin / metabolism*
  • Thiouridine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Thiouridine / metabolism
  • Viral Proteins / chemistry*
  • Viral Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Proteins / metabolism*
  • Virus Replication

Substances

  • 2-thiouridine
  • Viral Proteins
  • Thiouridine
  • Ribavirin
  • RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase

Associated data

  • PDB/3SFG
  • PDB/3SFU