Measuring the subcellular compartmentalization of viral infections by protein complementation assay

The recent emergence and reemergence of viruses in the human population has highlighted the need to develop broader panels of therapeutic molecules. High-throughput screening assays opening access to untargeted steps of the viral replication cycle will provide powerful leverage to identify innovative antiviral molecules. We report here the development of an innovative protein complementation assay, termed alpha Centauri, to measure viral translocation between subcellular compartments. As a proof of concept, the Centauri fragment was either tethered to the nuclear pore complex or sequestered in the nucleus, while the complementary a fragment (<16 amino acids) was attached to the integrase proteins of infectious HIV-1. The translocation of viral ribonucleoproteins from the cytoplasm to the nuclear envelope or to the nucleoplasm efficiently reconstituted superfolder green fluorescent protein or Nano-Luc aCentauri reporters. These fluorescence- or bioluminescence-based assays offer a robust readout of specific steps of viral infection in a multiwell format that is compatible for high-throughput screening and is validated by a short hairpin RNA-based prototype screen.

Automated summary

The recent emergence and reemergence of viruses in the human population has emphasized the necessity of developing broader panels of therapeutic molecules. High-throughput screening assays can identify innovative antiviral molecules by providing access to untargeted steps of the viral replication cycle. The development of an innovative protein complementation assay, named alpha Centauri, allows for the measurement of viral translocation between subcellular compartments, offering a robust readout of specific steps of viral infection in a multiwell format suitable for high-throughput screening.