title: A-to-G hypermutation in the genome of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus.
abstract: The interferon-inducible adenosine deaminase that acts on double-stranded RNA (ADAR1-L) has been proposed to be one of the antiviral effector proteins within the complex innate immune response. Here, the potential role of ADAR1-L in the innate immune response to lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), a widely used virus model, was studied. Infection with LCMV clearly upregulated ADAR1-L expression and activity. The editing activity of ADAR1-L on an RNA substrate was not inhibited by LCMV replication. Accordingly, an adenosine-to-guanosine (A-to-G) and uracil-to-cytidine (U-to-C) hypermutation pattern was found in the LCMV genomic RNA in infected cell lines and in mice. In addition, two hypermutated clones with a high level of A-to-G or U-to-C mutations within a short stretch of the viral genome were isolated. Analysis of the functionality of viral glycoprotein revealed that A-to-G- and U-to-C-mutated LCMV genomes coded for nonfunctional glycoprotein at a surprisingly high frequency. Approximately half the GP clones with an amino acid mutation lacked functionality. These results suggest that ADAR1-L-induced mutations in the viral RNA lead to a loss of viral protein function and reduced viral infectivity. This study therefore provides strong support for the contribution of ADAR1-L to the innate antiviral immune response.
authors.affiliation: Georg-Speyer-Haus, Paul-Ehrlich-Str. 42-44, 60596 Frankfurt, Germany.
authors.forename: Roland C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Zahn
authors.forename: Ina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Schelp
authors.forename: Olaf
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Utermöhlen
authors.forename: Dorothee
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: von Laer
mesh_terms: D000241:Adenosine; D000243:Adenosine Deaminase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D016679:Genome, Viral; D006151:Guanosine; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007739:L Cells; D008216:Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D008217:Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009154:Mutation; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded / Q000378:metabolism; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded; D012367:RNA, Viral; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D006151:Guanosine; C567955:ADARB1 protein, human; D000243:Adenosine Deaminase; D000241:Adenosine