RESUMO
Protein phosphorylation plays an important role during the life cycle of many viruses. Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) capsid protein has recently been shown to be phosphorylated at four residues. Here those studies are extended to determine the kinase responsible for phosphorylation and the importance of capsid phosphorylation during the viral life cycle. Phosphorylation site prediction software suggests that Protein Kinase C (PKC) is responsible for phosphorylation of VEEV capsid. VEEV capsid co-immunoprecipitated with PKCδ, but not other PKC isoforms and siRNA knockdown of PKCδ caused a decrease in viral replication. Furthermore, knockdown of PKCδ by siRNA decreased capsid phosphorylation. A virus with capsid phosphorylation sites mutated to alanine (VEEV CPD) displayed a lower genomic copy to pfu ratio than the parental virus; suggesting more efficient viral assembly and more infectious particles being released. RNA:capsid binding was significantly increased in the mutant virus, confirming these results. Finally, VEEV CPD is attenuated in a mouse model of infection, with mice showing increased survival and decreased clinical signs as compared to mice infected with the parental virus. Collectively our data support a model in which PKCδ mediated capsid phosphorylation regulates viral RNA binding and assembly, significantly impacting viral pathogenesis.
Assuntos
Proteínas do Capsídeo/metabolismo , Vírus da Encefalite Equina Venezuelana/metabolismo , Encefalomielite Equina Venezuelana/enzimologia , Proteína Quinase C-delta/metabolismo , RNA Viral/metabolismo , Animais , Capsídeo/metabolismo , Proteínas do Capsídeo/genética , Vírus da Encefalite Equina Venezuelana/genética , Encefalomielite Equina Venezuelana/genética , Encefalomielite Equina Venezuelana/virologia , Feminino , Cavalos , Interações Hospedeiro-Patógeno , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C3H , Fosforilação , Ligação Proteica , Proteína Quinase C-delta/genética , RNA Viral/genéticaRESUMO
Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) is a neurotropic virus that causes significant disease in both humans and equines. Here we characterized the impact of VEEV on signaling pathways regulating cell death in human primary astrocytes. VEEV productively infected primary astrocytes and caused an upregulation of early growth response 1 (EGR1) gene expression at 9 and 18â¯h post infection. EGR1 induction was dependent on extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2 (ERK1/2) and protein kinase R (PKR)-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK), but not on p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) or phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling. Knockdown of EGR1 significantly reduced VEEV-induced apoptosis and impacted viral replication. Knockdown of ERK1/2 or PERK significantly reduced EGR1 gene expression, dramatically reduced viral replication, and increased cell survival as well as rescued cells from VEEV-induced apoptosis. These data indicate that EGR1 activation and subsequent cell death are regulated through ERK and PERK pathways in VEEV infected primary astrocytes.
Assuntos
Morte Celular , Proteína 1 de Resposta de Crescimento Precoce/genética , Vírus da Encefalite Equina Venezuelana/fisiologia , Encefalomielite Equina Venezuelana/virologia , Proteína Quinase 1 Ativada por Mitógeno/metabolismo , Proteína Quinase 3 Ativada por Mitógeno/metabolismo , eIF-2 Quinase/metabolismo , Apoptose , Astrócitos/metabolismo , Astrócitos/patologia , Astrócitos/virologia , Sobrevivência Celular , Células Cultivadas , Proteína 1 de Resposta de Crescimento Precoce/metabolismo , Vírus da Encefalite Equina Venezuelana/patogenicidade , Encefalomielite Equina Venezuelana/metabolismo , Encefalomielite Equina Venezuelana/patologia , Expressão Gênica , Técnicas de Silenciamento de Genes , Humanos , Proteína Quinase 1 Ativada por Mitógeno/genética , Proteína Quinase 3 Ativada por Mitógeno/genética , Transdução de Sinais , Replicação Viral , eIF-2 Quinase/genéticaRESUMO
The New World alphaviruses -Venezuelan, eastern, and western equine encephalitis viruses (VEEV, EEEV, and WEEV respectively) - cause a febrile disease that is often lethal in equines and children and leads to long-term neurological sequelae in survivors. Endemic to the Americas, epizootic outbreaks of the three viruses occur sporadically in the continental United States. All three viruses aerosolize readily, replicate to high titers in cell culture, and have low infectious doses. Additionally, there are no FDA-approved vaccines or therapeutics for human use. To address the therapeutic gap, a high throughput assay utilizing a luciferase reporter virus, TC83-luc, was performed to screen a library of commercially available, FDA-approved drugs for antiviral activity. From a group of twenty compounds found to significantly decrease luminescence, the carcinoma therapeutic sorafenib inhibited replication of VEEV-TC83 and TrD in vitro. Additionally, sorafenib inhibited replication of EEEV and two Old World alphaviruses, Sindbis virus and chikungunya virus, at 8 and 16â¯h post-infection. Sorafenib caused no toxicity in Vero cells, and coupled with a low EC50 value, yielded a selectivity index of >19. Mechanism of actions studies suggest that sorafenib inhibited viral translation through dephosphorylation of several key proteins, including eIF4E and p70S6K, leading to a reduction in viral protein production and overall viral replication.