title: Functional mapping of the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus capsid protein nuclear localization signal and its pathogenic association.
abstract: PRRSV (porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus) nucleocapsid (N) protein is the most abundant structural protein of the virus. During infection, the N protein is specifically localized to the nucleus and nucleolus in addition to its normal cytoplasmic distribution. Previously, a nuclear localization signal (NLS, 41-PGKK(N/S)KKKN)-null mutant virus (41-PGGGNKKKN) showed reduced viremia and increased production of neutralizing antibodies in infected pigs. However, the mutagenized NLS underwent strong selection pressure in the pig that resulted in partial or complete reversion and reacquisition of NLS function, and thus the biological effect of the NLS-null mutation needed further investigation. In the present study, a total of 9 "reversion resistant" mutants were generated by amino acid deletions and substitutions using an infectious cDNA clone. Two mutant clones (PG--SKKKS and PG--S-KKS) that produced progeny viruses were genetically stable for at least 20 passages in cell culture. Infection of pigs with those mutants induced neutralizing antibodies to higher titers than with wild-type virus. Both mutant viruses induced viremia of lower titer and of shorter duration than wild-type virus. RT-PCR from tonsils showed that both mutants persisted at a reduced level. Virus transmission to contact pigs was also lower in the mutant virus infected groups. No reversion to functional NLS was detected in either mutant from any pig. These data demonstrate that N protein nuclear localization is indeed associated with viral pathogenesis and host response to PRRS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Yanlong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Pei
authors.forename: Douglas C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Hodgins
authors.forename: Changhee
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jay G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Calvert
authors.forename: Siao-Kun W
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Welch
authors.forename: Rika
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jolie
authors.forename: Marcia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Keith
authors.forename: Dongwan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yoo
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001483:Base Sequence; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002460:Cell Line; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology; D009154:Mutation; D019913:Nuclear Localization Signals / Q000235:genetics*; D019318:Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology*; D019316:Porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D021381:Protein Transport; D011897:Random Allocation; D013552:Swine; D014766:Viremia / Q000276:immunology; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D036022:Capsid Proteins; D019913:Nuclear Localization Signals