Structural characterization and polymorphism analysis of the NS2B-NS3 protease from the 2017 Brazilian circulating strain of Yellow Fever virus

Autor(es)

Noske, Gabriela Dias ^[1] ; Gawriljuk, Victor Oliveira ^[1] ; Fernandes, Rafaela Sachetto ^[1] ; Furtado, Nathalia Dias ^[2] ; Bonaldo, Myrna Cristina ^[2] ; Oliva, Glaucius ^[1] ; Godoy, Andre Schutzer ^[1]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Phys Inst Sao Carlos, Av Joao Dagnone, 1100 Jardim Santa Angelina, BR-13563120 Sao Carlos - Brazil

^[2] Fundacao Osvaldo Cruz, Inst Oswaldo Cruz, Lab Biol Mol & Flavivirus, Rio De Janeiro - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-GENERAL SUBJECTS; v. 1864, n. 4 APR 2020.
• Citações Web of Science: 0

Resumo

Background: The Yellow Fever virus (YFV) is transmitted by mosquitos and causes an infection with symptoms including fever, headaches and nausea. In 20-50% of the cases, the disease may evolve to a visceral stage, reaching high mortality rates. YFV NS2B-NS3 protease has been identified as an important drug target. Methods: Herein, we describe the crystal structure of the NS2B-NS3 protease from the 2017 YFV Brazilian circulating strain using X-ray crystallography. Furthermore, we used a combination of biochemical and biophysical assays to characterize the enzyme and investigate the impact of the polymorphisms observed in different YFV circulating strains. Results: Surprisingly, the crystal structure of YFV protease seems to adopt the closed conformation without the presence of a binding partner. Although D88E and K121R mutants exhibited a lower affinity for the substrate, both revealed to be more processive, resulting in a similar catalytic efficiency in relation to the WT protease. Still, both mutants showed an accentuated decrease in stability when compared with the WT. Conclusions: The crystal structure of YFV NS2B-NS3 in closed conformation might be an important tool for the development of new drugs, as well as understanding the activation mechanism of viral proteases. Biochemical analyses indicate that the NS2B-NS3 protease of the circulating strain of YFV is more stable than previous strains. General significance: The YFV NS2B-NS3 protease is the first flaviviral structure described in its closed conformation when in a free form, implying that external factors might induce the activation of the enzyme. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 16/19712-9 - Caracterização estrutural das proteínas do vírus Zika e busca por agentes antivirais
• Beneficiário: Andre Schutzer de Godoy
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Pós-Doutorado
• Processo FAPESP: 18/05130-3 - Construção e caracterização de um sistema replicon sub-genômico do ZIKV para a descoberta de agentes antivirais.
• Beneficiário: Rafaela Sachetto Fernandes
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Pós-Doutorado
• Processo FAPESP: 13/07600-3 - CIBFar - Centro de Inovação em Biodiversidade e Fármacos
• Beneficiário: Glaucius Oliva
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Centros de Pesquisa, Inovação e Difusão - CEPIDs