Structural insight into arenavirus replication machinery

Ruchao Peng, Xin Xu, Jiamei Jing, Min Wang, Qi Peng, Sheng Liu, Ying Wu, Xichen Bao, Peiyi Wang, Jianxun Qi, George F. Gao () and Yi Shi ()
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Ruchao Peng: Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Xin Xu: University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
Jiamei Jing: Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Min Wang: Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Qi Peng: Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Sheng Liu: Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Ying Wu: Shenzhen Third People’s Hospital
Xichen Bao: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Peiyi Wang: Southern University of Science and Technology
Jianxun Qi: Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
George F. Gao: Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Yi Shi: Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Nature, 2020, vol. 579, issue 7800, 615-619

Abstract: Abstract Arenaviruses can cause severe haemorrhagic fever and neurological diseases in humans and other animals, exemplified by Lassa mammarenavirus, Machupo mammarenavirus and lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, posing great threats to public health1–4. These viruses encode a large multi-domain RNA-dependent RNA polymerase for transcription and replication of the viral genome5. Viral polymerases are one of the leading antiviral therapeutic targets. However, the structure of arenavirus polymerase is not yet known. Here we report the near-atomic resolution structures of Lassa and Machupo virus polymerases in both apo and promoter-bound forms. These structures display a similar overall architecture to influenza virus and bunyavirus polymerases but possess unique local features, including an arenavirus-specific insertion domain that regulates the polymerase activity. Notably, the ordered active site of arenavirus polymerase is inherently switched on, without the requirement for allosteric activation by 5′-viral RNA, which is a necessity for both influenza virus and bunyavirus polymerases6,7. Moreover, dimerization could facilitate the polymerase activity. These findings advance our understanding of the mechanism of arenavirus replication and provide an important basis for developing antiviral therapeutics.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2114-2

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