Fig 1.
m6A modification of viral RNA during BPIV3 infection and enhancement of viral replication by METTL3.
HeLa cells were infected with rBPIV3-EGFP at an multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 1 and fixed at 48 h post-infection (hpi). The cells were costained with anti-BPIV3-N antibody (Ab) and anti-double-strand RNA (dsRNA) Ab (A) or m6A Ab (B). Representative images from three independent experiments are shown. White boxes in each panel indicate regions shown as magnified views in the corresponding lower-right insets. Cell nuclei were stained with DAPI. Manders’ colocalization coefficient for N with EGFP and with dsRNA (C), or with EGFP and with m6A (D), was calculated using the Coloc 2 plugin in Fiji/ImageJ software, based on analyses of eight cells for panel C and nine cells for panel D. The 293T cells were transfected with empty vector, METTL3, METTL14, ALKBH5, or FTO expression plasmids as m6A factors, and at 24 h post-transfection, the cells were infected with rBPIV3-EGFP at an MOI of 1. At 72 hpi, the culture supernatant was harvested, and the viral titer was determined by the TCID50 method (E, F). METTL3-KD, METTL14-KD, or control-sh HeLa cells were infected with rBPIV3-EGFP at an MOI of 1. At 48 hpi, supernatants from infected cells were harvested, and viral titers in each cell line were determined using the TCID50 method (G, H). HeLa cells were pre-treated with 7.5 µM STM2457 24 h before infection, and then the cells were infected with rBPIV3-EGFP at an MOI of 1 in the presence or absence (STM2457 + wash) of STM2457. At 72 hpi, supernatants from infected cells were harvested, and viral titers were determined in each cell line using the TCID50 method (I, J). CelliterGlo was used to measure the cell viability of the STM2457-treated-infected cells (K). RLU: relative luminescence unit. Data are representative of three independent experiments (n = 3). Asterisks indicate significance (*p < 0.05); ns, not significant. Data represent the mean ± SD from n = 3 independent experiments. Schematic illustrations in panels E, G, and I were created with MS PowerPoint.
Fig 2.
Cytoplasmic translocation of METTL3 during BPIV3 infection and its co-localization with viral dsRNA.
HeLa cells were transfected with FLAG-METTL3 expression plasmid, and at 24 h post-transfection (hpt), the cells were infected with rBPIV3-EGFP at an MOI of 1. At 48 h post-infection (hpi), the cells were fixed and costained with anti-FLAG antibody (Ab) for METTL3 and anti-BPIV3-N Ab (A). Arrowheads indicate regions where N and METTL3 fluorescence signals colocalize within the cells. The bar graph shows the distribution of METTL3 subcellular localization. For classification-based quantification, more than 30 METTL3 single- or METTL3/N double-positive cells per condition were randomly selected and classified into two localization patterns (“nucleus only” or “cytoplasmic or nucleus”). The number of cells displaying each localization pattern was counted for each condition from three independent experiments, and the results are presented as the percentage of total cells analyzed (B). HeLa cells were transfected with FLAG-METTL3 plasmid and, 24 hpt, infected with rBPIV3-EGFP at an MOI of 1. At 48 hpi, cells were fixed and co-stained with antibodies against dsRNA and FLAG-METTL3 (C) or dsRNA and endogenous METTL3 (endo METTL3) (D). Representative images from three independent experiments are shown. Manders’ colocalization coefficient between dsRNA and FLAG-METTL3 (E) or dsRNA and endogenous METTL3 (F) fluorescence signals in panels C and D was calculated using the Coloc 2 plugin in Fiji/ImageJ software. The coefficient was determined for each cell, and results represent analyses of 6–7 individual cells per condition from three independent experiments. Bars indicate the mean ± SD. White boxes in panels C and D indicate regions shown as magnified views in the corresponding lower-right insets. Data are representative of three independent experiments (n = 3). Asterisks indicate significance (*p < 0.05); ns, not significant.
Fig 3.
Nucleocytoplasmic translocation of METTL3 during BPIV3 infection and its temporal co-localization with viral M protein.
HeLa cells were cotransfected with METTL3 and M expression plasmid or an empty vector. At 48 h post-transfection (hpt), the cells were fixed and costained with anti-BPIV3-M antibody (Ab) and anti-FLAG Ab for METTL3 (A). HeLa cells were transfected with METTL3 expression plasmid, and at 24 hpt, the cells were infected with rBPIV3-EGFP at an MOI of 1. At 48 h post-infection (hpi), the cells were fixed and costained with anti-FLAG antibody (Ab) for METTL3 and anti-BPIV3-M Ab (B). Cell nuclei were stained with DAPI. Insets represent an enlargement of the areas indicated by a small square. Arrowheads indicate cytoplasmic colocalization of M with METTL3. Representative images from three independent experiments are shown. For classification-based quantification, more than 20 METTL3 single-positive or METTL3/M double-positive cells per condition were randomly selected and categorized into two subcellular localization patterns (“nucleus only” or “cytoplasmic or nucleus”). The number of cells in each category was counted, and the data are presented as the percentage of total cells analyzed from n = 3 independent experiments. (C and D). Asterisks indicate statistically significant differences (*p < 0.05); ns, not significant.
Fig 4.
Dependence of METTL3 nuclear export on exportin-1-mediated nuclear export of M protein.
(A) Schematic representation of BPIV3-M point mutants. BPIV3-M contains a nuclear export signal (NES) at L106 and L107 and a ubiquitination site (Ubi site) at K258. L106 and L107, or K258 in BPIV3-M, were substituted with alanine (M-L106A/L107A) or arginine (M-K258R) residues as indicated, respectively, and the substituted residue is shown as a red letter. (B) HeLa cells were cotransfected with expression plasmids of wt-BPIV3-M, M-L106A/L107A, and K258R along with FLAG-METTL3 expression plasmid. At 48 h post-transfection (hpt), the cells were costained with anti-M antibody (Ab) and anti-FLAG Ab for METTL3. (C) HeLa cells were transfected with the METTL3 expression plasmid. At 24 hpt, the cells were infected with rBPIV3-EGFP at an MOI of 1. At 4 h post-infection (hpi), DMSO or 5 ng/mL Leptomycin B (LMB) was added, and the cells were incubated for 48 h in the presence of LMB. Then, the cells were fixed, and METTL3 and BPIV3-N were costained. (D) HeLa cells were transfected with siRNA targeting Exportin-1 (si-Exportin-1) or control siRNA (si-Control). At 48 hpt, cells were lysed and subjected to immunoblotting with anti–Exportin-1 antibody to confirm knockdown efficiency. (E) HeLa cells were cotransfected with siRNA for Exportin-1 and METTL3 expression plasmid. At 24 hpt, the cells were infected with rBPIV3-EGFP at an MOI of 1. The cells were fixed at 48 hpi and costained for BPIV3-N and METTL3. Representative images from three independent experiments are shown. For classification-based quantification, more than 20 METTL3/M double-positive cells (F), METTL3/N double-positive cells (G), or METTL3/N double-positive cells under siRNA conditions (H) per condition were randomly selected and categorized into two subcellular localization patterns (“nucleus only” or “cytoplasmic or nucleus”). The number of cells in each category was counted, and the data are presented as the percentage of total cells analyzed from n = 3 independent experiments. Asterisks indicate statistically significant differences (*p < 0.05).
Fig 5.
Molecular interaction between M and methyltransferase domain of METTL3.
(A) 293T cells were cotransfected with M expression plasmid together with FLAG-METTL3 expression plasmid. For infected cells, the cells were transfected with FLAG-METTL3 expression plasmid and infected with rBPIV3-EGFP at an MOI of 1 at 24 h post-transfection (hpt). At 72 hpt, the cells were harvested and subjected to coimmunoprecipitation with anti-FLAG antibody (Ab). The precipitates were analyzed by western blotting using anti-BPIV3-M Ab. (B) Schematic representation of human METTL3. ZF1 and ZF2: two zinc finger domains, MTD: methyltransferase domain, DPPW: DPPW motif. The 1-400, 1-380, 1-200, and 161-580 deletion mutants lacking each domain are shown. 293T cells were cotransfected with the deletion mutants along with BPIV3-M. At 48 hpt, the cells were harvested and subjected to coimmunoprecipitation with anti-FLAG Ab as described in the legend of Fig 5A. (C) Schematic representation of FLAG- and GST-tagged deletion mutants of the BPIV3 M protein used to map the METTL3 interaction domain. Cells were transfected with a FLAG-METTL3 expression plasmid, and cells were harvested at 48–72 h post-transfection. Deletion mutants of the M protein fused with FLAG and GST tags were synthesized using a wheat germ cell-free expression system. Each FLAG-GST-tagged M deletion mutant was incubated with glutathione–sepharose beads at 4°C, followed by the addition of lysates containing FLAG-METTL3. After incubation, the beads were extensively washed, and bound proteins were analyzed by western blotting. Both METTL3 and M deletion mutants were detected using an anti-FLAG antibody. Each experiment was performed at least twice.
Fig 6.
Binding of METTL3 to BPIV3-N mRNA and m6A modification analysis of N mRNA at SRAMP-predicted sites.
(A) A schematic diagram of the RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay used to detect METTL3-associated N mRNA. (B) 293T cells were transfected with METTL3 expression plasmids. At 24 h post-transfection (hpt), the cells were infected with rBPIV3-EGFP at an MOI of 1 for 48 h. The infected cells were lysed, and the extracts were subjected to RNA immunoprecipitation assay with anti-FLAG antibody (Ab). After immunoprecipitation, cDNA of BPIV3-N mRNA captured by METTL3 was synthesized and the amount of N mRNA was quantified by qPCR. Followed by normalization to input RNA values, relative enrichment values of N mRNA were expressed relative to control IgG values using the ΔΔCt method. (C) SRAMP was used to predict the m6A site of the N gene derived from the BPIV3 genome. The vertical axis shows the m6A score and the horizontal axis shows the position number of the base of the N gene where N6-methyladenosine is present within the m6A motif. A yellow bar indicates low-scoring m6A site, N327, and red bars indicate high-scoring m6A sites, N872, N1146, N1372, N1427, and N1443. (D) Schematic representation of the MeRIP (m6A RNA immunoprecipitation) assay. (i) The m6A-containing RNA fragments were bound by an m6A-specific Ab. (ii) Viral N mRNA containing m6A modifications was fragmented. (iii) Antibody–RNA complexes were captured using protein affinity beads. (iv) RNA was eluted, reverse transcribed into cDNA, and amplified by qPCR using primers specific for the indicated N gene regions (N327, N872, N1146, and N1372–1443). (E) 293T cells were infected with rBPIV3-EGFP at an MOI of 1. At 72 h post-infection, the infected cells were harvested, and only mRNA from total RNA was purified. The m6A-modified mRNA was immunoprecipitated with m6A-specific Ab and magnetic beads. Followed by cleavage of the captured mRNA with the cleavage enzyme, the m6A-specific Ab-captured mRNA was eluted from magnetic beads and purified. cDNA was synthesized by reverse transcription reaction, and the m6A sites in N mRNA were then identified by qPCR. The relative value of each to the mRNA value of input RNA was calculated using the ΔΔCt method. Data represent the mean ± SD from n = 3 independent experiments. Asterisks represent statistically significant differences (* p < 0.05). ns; not significant.
Fig 7.
Role of N mRNA m6A modifications in RNA stability and efficient viral replication.
(A) Schematic representation of the N gene with mutations to substitute the critical A, C, or T in the m6A motif. The m6A motif, the putative N6 adenosine, and the mutation sites are indicated by yellow squares, cyan, and red characters, respectively. (B) 293T cells were transfected with wt-N, N-872-1146, N1372-1443, and N-all mutants expression plasmids. At 48 h post-transfection (hpt), the cells were treated with 5 μg/mL ActD for 9 h. After drug treatment, the total RNA was extracted, and cDNA of N mRNA was synthesized by reverse transcription reaction. The amount of N mRNA was quantified by qRT-PCR. For quantification, followed by normalization for the N mRNA values by the β-actin values, the stability of each N mRNA was expressed as a value relative to that of 0 h of ActD treatment. (C) 293T cells were transfected with wt-N, N-872-1146, N1372-1443, and N-all mutants expression plasmids. At 48 hpt, the cells were harvested and subjected to western blotting using anti-BPIV3-N Ab (n = 2). (D) Schematic representation of recombinant BPIV3 genome constructs used in this study. The wt BPIV3 full-length cDNA contains the N, P, M, F, HN, and L genes in the native order. The mutant BPIV3 full-length cDNA carries specific point mutations in the N gene (N-872/1146, N-1372/1427/1443, or N-all), indicated in pink. These constructs were used to generate recombinant viruses for subsequent infection experiments in cell culture. (E) Cells were infected with the wt or m6A mutant viruses at an MOI of 1. At various time points (48, 72, and 96 hpi), the culture supernatant was harvested, and the virus titers were measured by TCID50 assay on MDBK cells. Data represent the mean ± SD from n = 3 independent experiments. Asterisks represent statistically significant differences (* p < 0.05). ns; not significant. Schematic illustration in panel D was created with MS PowerPoint.
Fig 8.
Reduction of m6A modification and mRNA expression of type I interferon genes by M expression.
A549 cells were transfected with an M expression plasmid or an empty vector and treated with 10 μg/ml poly(I:C) for 24 h. Total RNA was extracted and subjected to RNA sequencing. (A) Volcano plots illustrating differential gene expressions between cells transfected with the M protein expression plasmid (M.poly(I:C)) and those transfected with the empty vector (Empty.poly(I:C)). The x-axis represents log2 fold changes, while the y-axis represents -log10 adjusted p-values (q-values). Red and blue plots represent genes upregulated and downregulated by M expression, respectively. The inset zooms in on genes with moderate fold changes and highlights downregulated genes, with an enlarged view shown on the right. Genes with significant differential expression, especially under the control of IFN-β, are labeled. (B) Top 10 canonical pathways determined by IPA. The orange or blue nodes indicate predicted biological function activation or inhibition, respectively. The x-axis indicates the -log10 p-values for each pathway, with the most significant terms related to interferon signaling. (C) IPA network depicting the pathways and gene interactions. Green nodes represent DEGs, and the edges indicate known interactions. Solid lines and dashed lines represent direct and indirect interactions, respectively. The degree of expression and prediction is reflected by the intensity of the color. (D) Total RNA was extracted from cells transfected with either M expression plasmid or empty vector after stimulation with poly(I:C) or DMSO addition, as prepared in A. The amount of IFN-β mRNA was quantified by qPCR using IFN-β gene-specific primer sets. (E) 293T cells were cotransfected with IFN-β + 3’UTR expression plasmid together with either M expression plasmid or empty vector. Total RNA extracted from the cells was subjected to m6A RNA immunoprecipitation using an m6A-specific antibody. IFN-β m6A modification efficiency was calculated by qPCR using primer sets designed to detect m6A sites within IFN-β mRNA, with enriched m6A-modified RNA as a template. Data represent the mean ± SD from n = 3 independent experiments (except for RNA-seq, which was performed once as a screening experiment). Asterisks represent statistically significant differences (* p < 0.05). ns; not significant.
Fig 9.
A model for m6A modification of viral and host RNA during paramyxovirus infection.
The newly synthesized paramyxovirus matrix (M) protein enters the nucleus and binds to METTL3 and METTL14 methyltransferase complexes. Exportin-1 recognizes M protein, facilitating the export of M-writer complexes to the cytoplasm. These complexes are then recruited into cytoplasmic inclusion bodies, which serve as viral RNA synthesis sites. Within these structures, m6A writers modify viral RNA, particularly N mRNA. The nuclear efflux of METTL3, driven by M protein, depletes nuclear m6A writers, leading to abnormal m6A modification of host mRNAs. Interferon-beta (IFN-β) mRNA is especially affected, showing reduced m6A levels. Consequently, reduced IFN-β mRNA levels result in attenuated antiviral and immune responses, allowing for more efficient viral replication. This process represents a sophisticated viral strategy to enhance replication while simultaneously suppressing host defense mechanisms, illustrating how paramyxoviruses manipulate cellular m6A machinery to their advantage. Schematic illustration in this Fig was created with MS PowerPoint.