Structural characterisation and inhibition of Arenavirus replication complex elements : assembly, function and inhibition of embedded nucleases

Abstract

Arenaviruses, belongs to a family of emerging enveloped segmented and ambisens RNA viruses associated withneurological and hemorrhagic diseases in humans. Arenavirus transcription and genome replication are cytoplasmic ensured by aribonucleoproteine replicase complex NP-L. After penetration, L protein initiates transcription to produce NP and L mRNAs[ 1].The priming of transcription is the result of a cap-snatching mechanism ensured by an endonuclease domain associated to the Lpolymerase. As the concentration of NP in the cell increases, genome segments are replicated, to produce full-length copies(cRNA). cRNAs are now templates for transcription of GPC mRNA (from the S segment) and Z mRNA (from the L segment).The NP caries an exonuclease in charge of clearing out from the cytoplasm dsRNA triggering innate immunity response. Bothnucleases have a similar two metal ion catalytic mechanism, with the particularity of transitioning ion brought by the RNAsubstrate. Any alteration of the remaining ion impairs greatly theses activities[2]. We present a global study aiming to characterizethe assembly of the NP[3], through flexible domains[4], a step critical for vRNApackaging and the polsitioning of L for vRNAreplication, as well as using a combined approach of biophysical screening, crystallography and in silico docking, identifyingactive compounds against both nucleases[5]. Crystal structures of the nucleases domain complexed with several compounds wereobtained[67]. By developing specific compounds to alter both transcription and innate immunity shadowing, our strategy is togive the cell a fighting chance to clear the infection. Combining structure, enzymology, rational synthesis, hit-To-leadoptimization, in cellula evaluation, and screening methods, we are presenting the results of a 2nd generation of molecules pavingthe way to the design of a 3rd generation increasing specificity towards Arenaviral nucleases in the context of the replicationcomplex[8]