Rotavirus genomes are distributed between 11 distinct RNA molecules, all of which must be selectively copackaged during virus assembly. This likely occurs through sequence-specific RNA interactions facilitated by the RNA chaperone NSP2. Here, we report that NSP2 autoregulates its chaperone activity through its C-terminal region (CTR) that promotes RNA-RNA interactions by limiting its helix-unwinding activity. Unexpectedly, structural proteomics data revealed that the CTR does not directly interact with RNA, while accelerating RNA release from NSP2. Cryo-electron microscopy reconstructions of an NSP2-RNA complex reveal a highly conserved acidic patch on the CTR, which is poised toward the bound RNA. Virus replication was abrogated by charge-disrupting mutations within the acidic patch but completely restored by charge-preserving mutations. Mechanistic similarities between NSP2 and the unrelated bacterial RNA chaperone Hfq suggest that accelerating RNA dissociation while promoting intermolecular RNA interactions may be a widespread strategy of RNA chaperone recycling.

• MeSH
• elektronová kryomikroskopie MeSH
• genom virový genetika   MeSH
• molekulární chaperony metabolismus   MeSH
• molekulární modely MeSH
• proteiny vázající RNA metabolismus   MeSH
• ribonukleoproteiny metabolismus   MeSH
• RNA virová genetika   MeSH
• Rotavirus genetika   růst a vývoj   metabolismus   MeSH
• sbalování RNA genetika   MeSH
• virové nestrukturální proteiny metabolismus   MeSH
• zabalení virového genomu genetika   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

To maintain genome integrity, segmented double-stranded RNA viruses of the Reoviridae family must accurately select and package a complete set of up to a dozen distinct genomic RNAs. It is thought that the high fidelity segmented genome assembly involves multiple sequence-specific RNA-RNA interactions between single-stranded RNA segment precursors. These are mediated by virus-encoded non-structural proteins with RNA chaperone-like activities, such as rotavirus (RV) NSP2 and avian reovirus σNS. Here, we compared the abilities of NSP2 and σNS to mediate sequence-specific interactions between RV genomic segment precursors. Despite their similar activities, NSP2 successfully promotes inter-segment association, while σNS fails to do so. To understand the mechanisms underlying such selectivity in promoting inter-molecular duplex formation, we compared RNA-binding and helix-unwinding activities of both proteins. We demonstrate that octameric NSP2 binds structured RNAs with high affinity, resulting in efficient intramolecular RNA helix disruption. Hexameric σNS oligomerizes into an octamer that binds two RNAs, yet it exhibits only limited RNA-unwinding activity compared to NSP2. Thus, the formation of intersegment RNA-RNA interactions is governed by both helix-unwinding capacity of the chaperones and stability of RNA structure. We propose that this protein-mediated RNA selection mechanism may underpin the high fidelity assembly of multi-segmented RNA genomes in Reoviridae.

• MeSH
• genom virový genetika   MeSH
• konformace nukleové kyseliny MeSH
• molekulární chaperony chemie   genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• molekulární modely MeSH
• proteiny vázající RNA chemie   genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• ptačí orthoreovirus genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• RNA virová chemie   genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• sekundární struktura proteinů MeSH
• sekvence nukleotidů MeSH
• vazba proteinů MeSH
• virové nestrukturální proteiny chemie   genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH