Epitope mapping and functional analysis of sigma A and sigma NS proteins of avian reovirus

We have previously shown that avian reovirus (ARV) σA and σNS proteins possess dsRNA and ssRNA binding activity and suggested that there are two epitopes on σA (I and II) and three epitopes (A, B, and C) on σNS. To further define the location of epitopes on σA and σNS proteins and to further elucidate the biological functions of these epitopes by using monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) 62, 1F9, H1E1, and 4A123 against the ARV S1133 strain, the full-length and deletion fragments of S2 and S4 genes of ARV generated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were cloned into pET32 expression vectors and the fusion proteins were overexpressed in Escherichia coli BL21 strain. Epitope mapping using MAbs and E. coli-expressed deletion fragments of σA and σNS of the ARV S1133 strain, synthetic peptides, and the cross reactivity of MAbs to heterologous ARV strains demonstrated that epitope II on σA was located at amino acid residues 340QWVMAGLVSAA350 and epitope B on σNS at amino acid residues 180MLDMVDGRP188. The MAbs (62, 1F9, and H1E1) directed against epitopes II and B did not require the native conformation of σA and σNS, suggesting that their binding activities were conformation-independent. On the other hand, MAb 4A123 only reacted with complete σNS but not with truncated σNS fusion proteins in Western blot, suggesting that the binding activity of MAb to epitope A on σNS was conformation-dependent. Amino acid sequence analysis and the binding assays of MAb 62 to heterologous ARV strains suggested that epitope II on σA was highly conserved among ARV strains and that this epitope is suitable as a serological marker for the detection of ARV antibodies following natural infection in chickens. On the contrary, an amino acid substitution at position 183 (M to V) in epitope B of ARV could hinder the reactivity of the σNS with MAb 1F9. The σNS of ARV with ssRNA-binding activity could be blocked by monoclonal antibody 1F9. The epitope B on σNS is required for ssRNA binding because its deletion fully abolished the ssRNA binding activity of σNS.