Cited by 477SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 ResearchAnimal Virus Infections StudiesVirology and Viral Diseases

A unifying structural and functional model of the coronavirus replication organelle: Tracking down RNA synthesis

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Snijder, Eric J., Limpens, Ronald W. A. L., de Wilde, Adriaan H., de Jong, Anja W. M., Zevenhoven-Dobbe, Jessika C., Maier, Helena J., Faas, Frank F. G. A., Koster, Abraham J. +1 more·2020·PLOS Biology

Published version of a preprint

Abstract

Zoonotic coronavirus (CoV) infections, such as those responsible for the current severe acute respiratory syndrome-CoV 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, cause grave international public health concern. In infected cells, the CoV RNA-synthesizing machinery associates with modified endoplasmic reticulum membranes that are transformed into the viral replication organelle (RO). Although double-membrane vesicles (DMVs) appear to be a pan-CoV RO element, studies to date describe an assortment of additional CoV-induced membrane structures. Despite much speculation, it remains unclear which RO element(s) accommodate viral RNA synthesis. Here we provide detailed 2D and 3D analyses of CoV ROs and show that diverse CoVs essentially induce the same membrane modifications, including the small open double-membrane spherules (DMSs) previously thought to be restricted to gamma- and delta-CoV infections and proposed as sites of replication. Metabolic labeling of newly synthesized viral RNA followed by quantitative electron microscopy (EM) autoradiography revealed abundant viral RNA synthesis associated with DMVs in cells infected with the beta-CoVs Middle East respiratory syndrome-CoV (MERS-CoV) and SARS-CoV and the gamma-CoV infectious bronchitis virus. RNA synthesis could not be linked to DMSs or any other cellular or virus-induced structure. Our results provide a unifying model of the CoV RO and clearly establish DMVs as the central hub for viral RNA synthesis and a potential drug target in CoV infection.

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  • A common pattern of coronavirus cell entry via endocytosis after receptor binding is followed by viral RNA release into the cytoplasm, production of viral proteins, and formation of viral replication/transcription complexes on double-membrane vesicles.

    “A common pattern of cell entry via endocytosis following receptor binding was established for coronaviruses, which is followed by viral RNA release into the cytoplasm, production of viral proteins, and formation of viral replication/transcription complexes on double-membrane vesicles (Snijder et al., 2020).”

    From COVID-19 and the human innate immune system (2021) · cites this paper as Snijder et al., 2020

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Authors
Snijder, E. J., Limpens, R. W. A. L., de Wilde, A. H., de Jong, A. W. M., Zevenhoven-Dobbe, J. C., Maier, H. J., Faas, F. F. G. A., Koster, A. J., & Bárcena, M.
Affiliations
  • Leiden University Medical Center (NL)
  • The Pirbright Institute (GB)
Corresponding author
  • Snijder, Eric J.
  • Bárcena, Montserrat
Venue
PLOS Biology
Published
2020-06-08
Volume
18
Issue
6
Pages
e3000715
ISSN
  • 1544-9173 (ISSN-L)
  • 1545-7885
OpenAlex
W3033917173
Cited by
477
References
78
Citations by year
2026: 41 · 2025: 38 · 2024: 57 · 2023: 74 · 2022: 91 · 2021: 121 · 2020: 53 · 2019: 2
FWCI
11.10
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • PLoS Biology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) (acceptedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Leiden Repository (Leiden University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • Informationszentrum Lebenswissenschaften (ZB MED) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (NWO-MEERVOUD-836.10.003)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Animal Science and Zoology › Animal Virus Infections Studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Virology and Viral Diseases
Keywords
viral RNA synthesis, double-membrane vesicles, SARS-CoV-2, MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV, infectious bronchitis virus, betacoronaviruses, antiviral drug targets
MeSH terms
Betacoronavirus, COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Animals, Cell Line, Chlorocebus aethiops, Endoplasmic Reticulum, Humans, Pneumonia, Viral, RNA, Viral, Vero Cells, Virus Replication, Coronavirus, Coronavirus Infections, Electron Microscope Tomography, Pandemics, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus

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