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Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) RNA synthesis occurs in cytoplasmic inclusion bodies (IBs) in which all the components of the viral RNA polymerase are concentrated. In this work, we show that RSV P protein recruits the essential RSV transcription factor M2-1 to IBs independently of the phosphorylation state of M2-1. We also show that M2-1 dephosphorylation is achieved by a complex formed between P and the cellular phosphatase PP1. We identified the PP1 binding site of P, which is an RVxF-like motif located nearby and upstream of the M2-1 binding region. NMR confirmed both P-M2-1 and P-PP1 interaction regions in P. When the P–PP1 interaction was disrupted, M2-1 remained phosphorylated and viral transcription was impaired, showing that M2-1 dephosphorylation is required, in a cyclic manner, for efficient viral transcription. IBs contain substructures called inclusion bodies associated granules (IBAGs), where M2-1 and neo-synthesized viral mRNAs concentrate. Disruption of the P–PP1 interaction was correlated with M2-1 exclusion from IBAGs, indicating that only dephosphorylated M2-1 is competent for viral mRNA binding and hence for a previously proposed post-transcriptional function., Author summary Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of lower respiratory tract illness in infants. Since no vaccine and no potent antivirals are available against RSV, it is essential to better understand the mechanisms of viral replication to develop new antiviral strategies. Here we have investigated the mechanisms by which two essential components of the viral RNA polymerase machinery, the phosphoprotein P and the M2-1 transcription factor, interact and function. We identified the amino acid residues of P critical for this interaction and showed that they are required for P recruiting M2-1 to cytoplasmic inclusions, where viral polymerase complex proteins concentrate and viral RNA synthesis occurs. We also showed that M2-1 dephosphorylation, required for viral transcription, is achieved by a complex formed between P and the cellular phosphatase PP1. The region of P binding to PP1 is located nearby and upstream of the M2-1 binding domain. This is the first report showing that the phosphoprotein of a negative strand RNA virus can hijack a cellular phosphatase to modulate the phosphorylation state of its partners. These two P regions interacting with M2-1 and PP1 are also potential targets for future antiviral therapy.

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Le virus respiratoire syncytial (VRS) est le principal agent responsable de maladies respiratoires sévères (bronchiolites, pneumonies) chez les nouveau-nés. Il pose de sérieux problèmes également chez les personnes âgées et les immunodéprimées. En l’absence de vaccin efficace contre ce virus, le développement rationnel de traitements antiviraux constitue un enjeu de taille. Le VRS est un virus enveloppé dont le génome est constitué d’un ARN simple brin de polarité négative, codant pour 11 protéines. Le génome est transcrit et répliqué par le complexe ARN polymérase viral. Ce complexe est composé de la nucléoprotéine N, de la polymérase L, de la phosphoprotéine P et du facteur de transcription M2-1. P est une protéine tétramérique multifonctionnelle intrinsèquement désordonnée jouant un rôle central au sein du complexe polymérase et interagissant avec N (Tran et al., 2007) (Galloux et al., 2015), L (Sourimant et al., 2015) et M2-1 (Mason et al., 2003). L’état de phosphorylation de P est régulé par les phosphatases cellulaires PP1 et PP2A (Bitko et Barik, 1998 ; Asenjo et al., 2005). M2-1 est une protéine tétramérique assurant la « processivité » de la polymérase au cours de la transcription virale. Elle interagit avec P et les ARNm viraux (Tran et al., 2009 ; Blondot et al., 2012 ; Tanner 2014). Lors d’une infection, M2-1 est majoritairement sous forme déphosphorylée ; elle est phosphorylée si elle est exprimée seule en cellule et déphosphorylée si elle est co-exprimée avec P (Cuesta et al., 2000). L'élimination de la phosphorylation par mutagenèse dirigée des résidus S58 et S61 de M2-1 altère la transcription virale (Cartee et Wertz, 2001). Toutes ces données suggèrent que l’état de phosphorylation de M2-1 influe sur la transcription virale en régulant les interactions avec P et l’ARN. Cependant, le mécanisme moléculaire régulant la phosphorylation de M2-1 reste inconnu.En cartographiant le site de P interagissant avec M2-1, de façon inattendue, nous avons observé qu’une mutation du résidu F87 situé en amont du site d’interaction avec M2-1 (région 90-110), empêchait la déphosphorylation de M2-1 sans effet sur l’interaction P-M2-1, et avait un effet drastique sur l’activité ARN polymérase. Ce résidu s’inscrit dans un motif de type « RVxF », impliqué dans la capture de la phosphatase-1 (PP1), protéine de la cellule hôte, par P. Par GST-pulldown et co-immunoprécipitation, nous avons montré que P interagit directement avec PP1 via ce domaine. De plus, par immunofluorescence et microscopie, nous avons observé que P recrute PP1 dans les corps d’inclusion. Enfin nous montrons que l’emploi d’inhibiteurs spécifiques contre PP1 entraîne une accumulation de M2-1 phosphorylée et diminue l’efficacité de la réplication du VRS. Nous en déduisons ainsi que le complexe P-PP1 régule la déphosphorylation de M2-1 et la transcription du VRS. C'est la première étude montrant que la phosphoprotéine du VRS recrute une phosphatase cellulaire pour moduler l'état de phosphorylation d’un de ses partenaires viraux.

International audience; The development of safe and effective vaccines against both bovine and human respiratory syncytial viruses (BRSV, HRSV) to be used in the presence of RSV-specific maternally-derived antibodies (MDA) remains a high priority in human and veterinary medicine. Herein, we present safety and efficacy results from a virulent BRSV challenge of calves with MDA, which were immunized with one of three vaccine candidates that allow serological differentiation of infected from vaccinated animals (DIVA): an SH gene-deleted recombinant BRSV (Delta SHrBRSV), and two subunit (SU) formulations based on HRSV-P, -M2- 1, and -N recombinant proteins displaying BRSV-F and -G epitopes, adjuvanted by either oil emulsion (Montanide ISA71(VG), SUMont) or immunostimulating complex matrices (AbISCO-300, SUAbis). Whereas all control animals developed severe respiratory disease and shed high levels of virus following BRSV challenge, Delta SHrBRSV-immunized calves demonstrated almost complete clinical and virological protection five weeks after a single intranasal vaccination. Although mucosal vaccination with DSHrBRSV failed to induce a detectable immunological response, there was a rapid and strong anamnestic mucosal BRSV-specific IgA, virus neutralizing antibody and local T cell response following challenge with virulent BRSV. Calves immunized twice intramuscularly, three weeks apart with SUMont were also well protected two weeks after boost. The protection was not as pronounced as that in Delta SHrBRSV-immunized animals, but superior to those immunized twice subcutaneously three weeks apart with SUAbis. Antibody responses induced by the subunit vaccines were non-neutralizing and not directed against BRSV F or G proteins. When formulated as SUMont but not as SUAbis, the HRSV N, P and M2-1 proteins induced strong systemic cross-protective cell-mediated immune responses detectable already after priming. Delta SHrBRSV and SUMont are two promising DIVA-compatible vaccines, apparently inducing protection by different immune responses that were influenced by vaccine-composition, immunization route and regimen.

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