title: Arenavirus Z protein as an antiviral target: virus inactivation and protein oligomerization by zinc finger-reactive compounds.
abstract: Several disulfide-based and azoic compounds have shown antiviral and virucidal properties against arenaviruses in virus yield-inhibition and inactivation assays, respectively. The most effective virucidal agent, the aromatic disulfide NSC20625, was able to inactivate two strains of the prototype arenavirus species Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV). Inactivated viral particles retained the biological functions of the virion envelope glycoproteins in virus binding and uptake, but were unable to perform viral RNA replication. Furthermore, in inactivated virions, the electrophoretic profile of the Z protein was altered when analysed under non-reducing conditions, whereas the patterns of the proteins NP and GP1 remained unaffected. Treatment of a recombinant LCMV Z protein with the virucidal agents induced unfolding and oligomerization of Z to high-molecular-mass aggregates, probably due to metal-ion ejection and the formation of intermolecular disulfide bonds through the cysteine residues of the Z RING finger. NSC20625 also exhibited antiviral properties in LCMV-infected cells without affecting other cellular RING-motif proteins, such as the promyelocytic leukaemia protein PML. Altogether, the investigations described here illustrate the potential of the Z protein as a promising target for therapy and the prospects of the Z-reactive compounds to prevent arenavirus dissemination.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Virology, Department of Biological Chemistry, School of Sciences, University of Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón 2, Piso 4, 1428 Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Cybele C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: García
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland Biotechnology Center, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
authors.forename: Mahmoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Djavani
authors.affiliation: Institute de Recherche en Immunologie et en Cancerologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada.
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Topisirovic
authors.affiliation: Institute de Recherche en Immunologie et en Cancerologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada.
authors.forename: Katherine L B
authors.initials: KLB
authors.lastname: Borden
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland Biotechnology Center, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
authors.forename: María S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Salvato
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Virology, Department of Biological Chemistry, School of Sciences, University of Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón 2, Piso 4, 1428 Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Elsa B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Damonte
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001391:Azo Compounds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000187:drug effects*; D002460:Cell Line; D004220:Disulfides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008217:Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides / Q000378:metabolism; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects; D016335:Zinc Fingers / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D001391:Azo Compounds; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D004220:Disulfides; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D012367:RNA, Viral; C117526:p11 Z protein, Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus