scholarly journals Novel Membrane-Bound eIF2α Kinase in the Flagellar Pocket of Trypanosoma brucei

2007 ◽  
Vol 6 (11) ◽  
pp. 1979-1991 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Carolina S. Moraes ◽  
Teresa C. L. Jesus ◽  
Nilce N. Hashimoto ◽  
Madhusudan Dey ◽  
Kevin J. Schwartz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Trypanosoma Brucei ◽  
Translational Control ◽  
Catalytic Domain ◽  
Sequence Similarity ◽  
Initiation Factor ◽  
Flagellar Pocket ◽  
Human Pathogens ◽  
Eif2α Kinase

ABSTRACT Translational control mediated by phosphorylation of the alpha subunit of the eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF2α) is central to stress-induced programs of gene expression. Trypanosomatids, important human pathogens, display differentiation processes elicited by contact with the distinct physiological milieu found in their insect vectors and mammalian hosts, likely representing stress situations. Trypanosoma brucei, the agent of African trypanosomiasis, encodes three potential eIF2α kinases (TbeIF2K1 to -K3). We show here that TbeIF2K2 is a transmembrane glycoprotein expressed both in procyclic and in bloodstream forms. The catalytic domain of TbeIF2K2 phosphorylates yeast and mammalian eIF2α at Ser51. It also phosphorylates the highly unusual form of eIF2α found in trypanosomatids specifically at residue Thr169 that corresponds to Ser51 in other eukaryotes. T. brucei eIF2α, however, is not a substrate for GCN2 or PKR in vitro. The putative regulatory domain of TbeIF2K2 does not share any sequence similarity with known eIF2α kinases. In both procyclic and bloodstream forms TbeIF2K2 is mainly localized in the membrane of the flagellar pocket, an organelle that is the exclusive site of exo- and endocytosis in these parasites. It can also be detected in endocytic compartments but not in lysosomes, suggesting that it is recycled between endosomes and the flagellar pocket. TbeIF2K2 location suggests a relevance in sensing protein or nutrient transport in T. brucei, an organism that relies heavily on posttranscriptional regulatory mechanisms to control gene expression in different environmental conditions. This is the first membrane-associated eIF2α kinase described in unicellular eukaryotes.

Coping with stress: eIF2 kinases and translational control

2006 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.C. Wek ◽  
H.-Y. Jiang ◽  
T.G. Anthony
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Transcription Factors ◽  
Protein Kinases ◽  
Translational Control ◽  
Environmental Stresses ◽  
Initiation Factor ◽  
Nutritional Deficiencies ◽  
Basic Leucine Zipper ◽  
Eif2α Kinase ◽  
Eif2 Phosphorylation

In response to environmental stresses, a family of protein kinases phosphorylate eIF2 (eukaryotic initiation factor 2) to alleviate cellular injury or alternatively induce apoptosis. Phosphorylation of eIF2 reduces global translation, allowing cells to conserve resources and to initiate a reconfiguration of gene expression to effectively manage stress conditions. Accompanying this general protein synthesis control, eIF2 phosphorylation induces translation of specific mRNAs, such as that encoding the bZIP (basic leucine zipper) transcriptional regulator ATF4 (activating transcription factor 4). ATF4 also enhances the expression of additional transcription factors, ATF3 and CHOP (CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein homologous protein)/GADD153 (growth arrest and DNA-damage-inducible protein), that assist in the regulation of genes involved in metabolism, the redox status of the cells and apoptosis. Reduced translation by eIF2 phosphorylation can also lead to activation of stress-related transcription factors, such as NF-κB (nuclear factor κB), by lowering the steady-state levels of short-lived regulatory proteins such as IκB (inhibitor of NF-κB). While many of the genes induced by eIF2 phosphorylation are shared between different environmental stresses, eIF2 kinases function in conjunction with other stress-response pathways, such as those regulated by mitogen-activated protein kinases, to elicit gene expression programmes that are tailored for the specific stress condition. Loss of eIF2 kinase pathways can have important health consequences. Mice devoid of the eIF2 kinase GCN2 [general control non-derepressible-2 or EIF2AK4 (eIF2α kinase 4)] show sensitivity to nutritional deficiencies and aberrant eating behaviours, and deletion of PEK [pancreatic eIF2α kinase or PERK (RNA-dependent protein kinase-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase) or EIF2AK3] leads to neonatal insulin-dependent diabetes, epiphyseal dysplasia and hepatic and renal complications.

scholarly journals Circadian clock control of eIF2α phosphorylation is necessary for rhythmic translation initiation

2020 ◽  
Vol 117 (20) ◽  
pp. 10935-10945 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shanta Karki ◽  
Kathrina Castillo ◽  
Zhaolan Ding ◽  
Olivia Kerr ◽  
Teresa M. Lamb ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Circadian Clock ◽  
Translation Initiation ◽  
Translation Initiation Factor ◽  
Initiation Factor ◽  
Nutrient Metabolism ◽  
Eif2α Phosphorylation ◽  
Eif2α Kinase ◽  
The Impact

The circadian clock in eukaryotes controls transcriptional and posttranscriptional events, including regulation of the levels and phosphorylation state of translation factors. However, the mechanisms underlying clock control of translation initiation, and the impact of this potential regulation on rhythmic protein synthesis, were not known. We show that inhibitory phosphorylation of eIF2α (P-eIF2α), a conserved translation initiation factor, is clock controlled in Neurospora crassa, peaking during the subjective day. Cycling P-eIF2α levels required rhythmic activation of the eIF2α kinase CPC-3 (the homolog of yeast and mammalian GCN2), and rhythmic activation of CPC-3 was abolished under conditions in which the levels of charged tRNAs were altered. Clock-controlled accumulation of P-eIF2α led to reduced translation during the day in vitro and was necessary for the rhythmic synthesis of select proteins in vivo. Finally, loss of rhythmic P-eIF2α levels led to reduced linear growth rates, supporting the idea that partitioning translation to specific times of day provides a growth advantage to the organism. Together, these results reveal a fundamental mechanism by which the clock regulates rhythmic protein production, and provide key insights into how rhythmic translation, cellular energy, stress, and nutrient metabolism are linked through the levels of charged versus uncharged tRNAs.

scholarly journals Characterization and selective inhibition of myristoyl-CoA:protein N-myristoyltransferase from Trypanosoma brucei and Leishmania major

2006 ◽  
Vol 396 (2) ◽  
pp. 277-285 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chrysoula Panethymitaki ◽  
Paul W. Bowyer ◽  
Helen P. Price ◽  
Robin J. Leatherbarrow ◽  
Katherine A. Brown ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Trypanosoma Brucei ◽  
Leishmania Major ◽  
Homo Sapiens ◽  
Selective Inhibition ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Chemotherapeutic Agents ◽  
Human Pathogens ◽  
Ic50 Values

The eukaryotic enzyme NMT (myristoyl-CoA:protein N-myristoyltransferase) has been characterized in a range of species from Saccharomyces cerevisiae to Homo sapiens. NMT is essential for viability in a number of human pathogens, including the fungi Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans, and the parasitic protozoa Leishmania major and Trypanosoma brucei. We have purified the Leishmania and T. brucei NMTs as active recombinant proteins and carried out kinetic analyses with their essential fatty acid donor, myristoyl-CoA and specific peptide substrates. A number of inhibitory compounds that target NMT in fungal species have been tested against the parasite enzymes in vitro and against live parasites in vivo. Two of these compounds inhibit TbNMT with IC50 values of <1 μM and are also active against mammalian parasite stages, with ED50 (the effective dose that allows 50% cell growth) values of 16–66 μM and low toxicity to murine macrophages. These results suggest that targeting NMT could be a valid approach for the development of chemotherapeutic agents against infectious diseases including African sleeping sickness and Nagana.

scholarly journals Vitamin B6 Is Required for Full Motility and Virulence in Helicobacter pylori

mBio ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra Grubman ◽  
Alexandra Phillips ◽  
Marie Thibonnier ◽  
Maria Kaparakis-Liaskos ◽  
Chad Johnson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Helicobacter Pylori ◽  
Virulence Factors ◽  
Bacterial Pathogens ◽  
Therapeutic Targets ◽  
Vitamin B ◽  
Human Pathogens ◽  
Chronic Colonization ◽  
H Pylori

ABSTRACTDespite recent advances in our understanding of howHelicobacter pyloricauses disease, the factors that allow this pathogen to persist in the stomach have not yet been fully characterized. To identify new virulence factors inH. pylori, we generated low-infectivity variants of a mouse-colonizingH. pyloristrain using the classical technique ofin vitroattenuation. The resulting variants and their highly infectious progenitor bacteria were then analyzed by global gene expression profiling. The gene expression levels of five open reading frames (ORFs) were significantly reduced in low-infectivity variants, with the most significant changes observed for ORFs HP1583 and HP1582. These ORFs were annotated as encoding homologs of theEscherichia colivitamin B6biosynthesis enzymes PdxA and PdxJ. Functional complementation studies withE. coliconfirmedH. pyloriPdxA and PdxJ to bebona fidehomologs of vitamin B6biosynthesis enzymes. Importantly,H. pyloriPdxA was required for optimal growthin vitroand was shown to be essential for chronic colonization in mice. In addition to having a well-known metabolic role, vitamin B6is necessary for the synthesis of glycosylated flagella and for flagellum-based motility inH. pylori. Thus, for the first time, we identify vitamin B6biosynthesis enzymes as novel virulence factors in bacteria. Interestingly,pdxAandpdxJorthologs are present in a number of human pathogens, but not in mammalian cells. We therefore propose that PdxA/J enzymes may represent ideal candidates for therapeutic targets against bacterial pathogens.IMPORTANCEApproximately half of the world’s population is infected withH. pylori, yet howH. pyloribacteria establish chronic infections in human hosts remains elusive. From gene array studies, we identified two genes as representing potentially novel colonization factors forH. pylori. These genes encoded enzymes involved in the synthesis of vitamin B6, an important molecule for many metabolic reactions in living organisms. Little is currently known regarding vitamin B6biosynthesis in human pathogens. We showed that mutantH. pyloribacteria lacking an enzyme involved inde novovitamin B6biosynthesis, PdxA, were unable to synthesize motility appendages (flagella) and were unable to establish chronic colonization in mice. Thus, this work identifies vitamin B6biosynthesis enzymes as novel virulence factors for bacterial pathogens. Interestingly, a number of human pathogens, but not their mammalian hosts, possess these genes, which suggests that Pdx enzymes may represent ideal candidates for new therapeutic targets.

scholarly journals PfPK6, a novel cyclin-dependent kinase/mitogen-activated protein kinase-related protein kinase from Plasmodium falciparum

2000 ◽  
Vol 347 (1) ◽  
pp. 255-263 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valerie BRACCHI-RICARD ◽  
Sailen BARIK ◽  
Cherie DELVECCHIO ◽  
Christian DOERIG ◽  
Ratna CHAKRABARTI ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plasmodium Falciparum ◽  
Protein Kinase ◽  
Catalytic Domain ◽  
Sequence Similarity ◽  
Small Subunit ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽  
Cdna Clones ◽  
Cyclin Dependent Kinase ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein

We have isolated a novel protein kinase cDNA, PfPK6, by differential display RT-PCR (DDRT-PCR) of mRNA obtained from different asexual erythrocytic stages of Plasmodium falciparum, which shows sequence similarity to both cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family members. The 915 bp open reading frame (ORF) is interrupted by seven introns and encodes a 305-residue polypeptide with a predicted molecular mass of 35848 Da. Several cDNA clones with some of the intron sequences were isolated, indicating alternate or defective splicing of PfPK6 transcripts because the gene seems to be a single copy located on chromosome 13. The similarity of the catalytic domain of PfPK6 to those of CDK2 and MAPK is 57.3% and 49.6%, respectively. The signature PSTAIRE (single-letter amino acid codes) CDK motif is changed to SKCILRE in PfPK6. The TXY residues that are phosphorylated in MAPKs for their activation are T173PT in PfPK6. Three size classes of PfPK6 transcripts of 6.5, 2.0 and 1.1 kb are up-regulated during the transition of P. falciparum from ring to trophozoite. Western blot analysis suggested the expression of a 35 kDa polypeptide in trophozoites and schizonts. Immunofluorescence studies indicated both nuclear and cytoplasmic localization of PfPK6 in trophozoite, schizont and segmenter stages. In vitro, recombinant PfPK6 phosphorylated itself and also exogenous substrates, histone and the small subunit of the malarial ribonucleotide reductase (R2). The kinase activity of PfPK6 is sensitive to CDK inhibitors such as olomoucine and roscovitine. PfPK6 showed a preference for Mn2+ over Mg2+ ions as a cofactor. The Lys38 → Arg mutant is severely defective in its interaction with ATP and bivalent cations and somewhat defective in catalytic rate for R2 phosphorylation.

scholarly journals Point Mutations in Yeast CBF5 Can Abolish In Vivo Pseudouridylation of rRNA

1999 ◽  
Vol 19 (11) ◽  
pp. 7461-7472 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yeganeh Zebarjadian ◽  
Tom King ◽  
Maurille J. Fournier ◽  
Louise Clarke ◽  
John Carbon
Keyword(s):  
Catalytic Domain ◽  
Sequence Similarity ◽  
Point Mutations ◽  
Rrna Synthesis ◽  
Temperature Sensitive ◽  
In Vitro Mutagenesis ◽  
Sequence Motifs ◽  
Conserved Sequence

ABSTRACT In budding yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), the majority of box H/ACA small nucleolar RNPs (snoRNPs) have been shown to direct site-specific pseudouridylation of rRNA. Among the known protein components of H/ACA snoRNPs, the essential nucleolar protein Cbf5p is the most likely pseudouridine (Ψ) synthase. Cbf5p has considerable sequence similarity to Escherichia coli TruBp, a known Ψ synthase, and shares the “KP” and “XLD” conserved sequence motifs found in the catalytic domains of three distinct families of known and putative Ψ synthases. To gain additional evidence on the role of Cbf5p in rRNA biosynthesis, we have used in vitro mutagenesis techniques to introduce various alanine substitutions into the putative Ψ synthase domain of Cbf5p. Yeast strains expressing these mutatedcbf5 genes in a cbf5Δ null background are viable at 25°C but display pronounced cold- and heat-sensitive growth phenotypes. Most of the mutants contain reduced levels of Ψ in rRNA at extreme temperatures. Substitution of alanine for an aspartic acid residue in the conserved XLD motif of Cbf5p (mutantcbf5D95A) abolishes in vivo pseudouridylation of rRNA. Some of the mutants are temperature sensitive both for growth and for formation of Ψ in the rRNA. In most cases, the impaired growth phenotypes are not relieved by transcription of the rRNA from a polymerase II-driven promoter, indicating the absence of polymerase I-related transcriptional defects. There is little or no abnormal accumulation of pre-rRNAs in these mutants, although preferential inhibition of 18S rRNA synthesis is seen in mutantcbf5D95A, which lacks Ψ in rRNA. A subset of mutations in the Ψ synthase domain impairs association of the altered Cbf5p proteins with selected box H/ACA snoRNAs, suggesting that the functional catalytic domain is essential for that interaction. Our results provide additional evidence that Cbf5p is the Ψ synthase component of box H/ACA snoRNPs and suggest that the pseudouridylation of rRNA, although not absolutely required for cell survival, is essential for the formation of fully functional ribosomes.

Upregulation of eIF4E in Nucleophosmin 1 (NPM1) Haploinsufficient Cells Alters CCAAT Enhancer Binding Protein Alpha (C/EBPα) Activity: Implications for MDS and AML

Blood ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 118 (21) ◽  
pp. 2432-2432
Author(s):  
Nirmalee Abayasekara ◽  
Michelle Levine ◽  
Niccolo Bolli ◽  
Hong Sun ◽  
Matthew Silver ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Translation Initiation ◽  
Translational Control ◽  
Conflicts Of Interest ◽  
Mrna Translation ◽  
Dominant Negative ◽  
Full Length ◽  
Initiation Factor ◽  
Specific Gene ◽  
Specific Gene Expression

Abstract Abstract 2432 NPM1, is a highly conserved, ubiquitous nucleolar phosphoprotein that belongs to the nucleoplasmin family of nuclear chaperones. NPM1−/− mice die at mid-gestation (E11.5) from anemia, underscoring the gene's role in embryonic development. NPM1 is one of the most frequently mutated genes in AML. Mutations in NPM1 are found in 50% of normal karyotype AML patients, and mutant NPM1 (NPMc+) is aberrantly located in the cytoplasm of leukemic blasts in about 35% of all AML patients. Furthermore, NPM1 maps to a region on chromosome 5q that is the target of deletions in both de novo and therapy-associated human MDS. NPM1 thus acts as a haploinsufficient tumor suppressor in the hematological compartment, although the mechanism of its contribution to dysmyelopoiesis remains unknown. NPM-1+/− mice develop a hematological syndrome similar to that observed in human MDS, and develop AML over time. The NPM1 deficient model therefore provides a platform to interrogate the molecular basis of MDS. We identified nucleophosmin (NPM1) in a screen for protein binding partners of C/EBPα. C/EBPα is a single exon gene, but is expressed as two isoforms that arise by alternate translation start sites to yield a full length C/EBPα p42 and a truncated dominant negative C/EBPα p30 isoform. Translational control of isoform expression is orchestrated by a conserved upstream open reading frame (uORF) in the 5' untranslated region (5'UTR) and modulated by the translation initiation factors eIF4E and eIF2. We generated factor-dependent myeloid cell lines from the bone marrow of Npm1+/+ and Npm1+/− mice. These lines are IL-3-dependent and inducible toward neutrophil maturation with GM-CSF and/ or all- trans retinoic acid (ATRA). Neutrophils derived from MNPM1+/− cells display defective neutrophil-specific gene expression, including a cassette of C/EBPα-dependent genes. These observations led us to postulate that myeloid abnormalities in NPM1 deficiency reflect an aberrant NPM1-C/EBPα axis. We show that NPM1 haploinsufficiency upregulates eIF4E (eukaryotic initiation factor 4E) (but not eIF2), which binds the mRNA-Cap (m7-GTP) as part of the mRNA translation initiation complex, eIF4F. Increased eIF4E is observed in about 30% of all malignancies. Initial increased eIF4E levels in MNPM+/− cells likely reflect transcriptional activation by the oncoprotein c-Myc, protein levels of which are also elevated in MNPM1+/− cells. We propose that increased eIF4E then induces increased C/EBPαp30 translation. C/EBPαp30 is a dominant negative inhibitor of full length C/EBPαp42 activity and disrupts normal neutrophil development. Furthermore, we demonstrate that C/EBPαp30 but not C/EBPαp42, activates the eIF4E promoter. We propose a positive feedback loop, wherein increased C/EBPαp30 induced by eIF4E further increases the expression of eIF4E. Our data suggest that NPM1 deficiency modulates neutrophil-specific gene expression by altering C/EBPα. We propose an aberrant feed-forward mechanism that increases levels of both eIF4E and C/EBPαp30 and likely contributes to MDS associated with NPM1 deficiency. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

scholarly journals Phosphorylation of Eukaryotic Initiation Factor 2 by Heme-Regulated Inhibitor Kinase-Related Protein Kinases in Schizosaccharomyces pombe Is Important for Resistance to Environmental Stresses

2002 ◽  
Vol 22 (20) ◽  
pp. 7134-7146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ke Zhan ◽  
Krishna M. Vattem ◽  
Bettina N. Bauer ◽  
Thomas E. Dever ◽  
Jane-Jane Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protein Synthesis ◽  
Schizosaccharomyces Pombe ◽  
Environmental Stresses ◽  
Initiation Factor ◽  
Eukaryotic Initiation Factor ◽  
Α Subunit ◽  
Eukaryotic Initiation Factor 2 ◽  
Initiation Factor 2 ◽  
Eif2α Kinase

ABSTRACT Protein synthesis is regulated by the phosphorylation of the α subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF2α) in response to different environmental stresses. One member of the eIF2α kinase family, heme-regulated inhibitor kinase (HRI), is activated under heme-deficient conditions and blocks protein synthesis, principally globin, in mammalian erythroid cells. We identified two HRI-related kinases from Schizosaccharomyces pombe which have full-length homology with mammalian HRI. The two HRI-related kinases, named Hri1p and Hri2p, exhibit autokinase and kinase activity specific for Ser-51 of eIF2α, and both activities were inhibited in vitro by hemin, as previously described for mammalian HRI. Overexpression of Hri1p, Hri2p, or the human eIF2α kinase, double-stranded-RNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR), impeded growth of S. pombe due to elevated phosphorylation of eIF2α. Cells from strains with deletions of the hri1+ and hri2+ genes, individually or in combination, exhibited a reduced growth rate when exposed to heat shock or to arsenic compounds. Measurements of in vivo phosphorylation of eIF2α suggest that Hri1p and Hri2p differentially phosphorylate eIF2α in response to these stress conditions. These results demonstrate that HRI-related enzymes are not unique to vertebrates and suggest that these eIF2α kinases are important participants in diverse stress response pathways in some lower eukaryotes.

Chemokine degradation by the Group A streptococcal serine proteinase ScpC can be reconstituted in vitro and requires two separate domains

2009 ◽  
Vol 422 (3) ◽  
pp. 533-542 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Fritzer ◽  
Birgit Noiges ◽  
Daniela Schweiger ◽  
Angelika Rek ◽  
Andreas J. Kungl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Catalytic Domain ◽  
Serine Proteinase ◽  
Interferon Γ ◽  
Catalytic Triad ◽  
Terminal Region ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Human Pathogens ◽  
Platelet Factor ◽  
Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein 1

Streptococcus pyogenes is one of the most common human pathogens and possesses diverse mechanisms to evade the human immune defence. One example of its immune evasion is the degradation of the chemokine IL (interleukin)-8 by ScpC, a serine proteinase that prevents the recruitment of neutrophils to an infection site. By applying the ANTIGENome technology and using human serum antibodies, we identified Spy0416, annotated as ScpC, as a prominent antigen that induces protective immune responses in animals. We demonstrate here for the first time that the recombinant form of Spy0416 is capable of IL-8 degradation in vitro in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Mutations in the conserved amino acid residues of the catalytic triad of Spy0416 completely abolished in vitro activity. However, the isolated predicted proteinase domain does not exhibit IL-8-degrading activity, but is dependent on the presence of the C-terminal region of Spy0416. Binding to IL-8 is mainly mediated by the catalytic domain. However, the C-terminal region modulates substrate binding, indicating that the proteolytic activity is amenable to regulation via the non-catalytic regions. The specificity for human substrates is not restricted to IL-8, since we also detected in vitro protease activity for another CXC chemokine GRO-α (growth-related oncogene α), but not for NAP-2 (neutrophil-activating protein 2), SDF (stromal-cell-derived factor)-1α, PF-4 (platelet factor 4), I-TAC (interferon-γ-inducible T-cell α-chemoattractant), IP-10 (interferon-γ-inducible protein 10) and MCP-1 (monocyte chemoattractant protein 1). The degradation of two human CXC chemokines in vitro, the high sequence conservation, the immunogenicity of the protein in humans and the shown protection in animal studies suggest that Spy0416 is a promising vaccine candidate for the prevention of infections by S. pyogenes.

scholarly journals Polyamines and Hypusination Are Required for Ebolavirus Gene Expression and Replication

mBio ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle E. Olsen ◽  
Claire Marie Filone ◽  
Dan Rozelle ◽  
Chad E. Mire ◽  
Krystle N. Agans ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Rna Virus ◽  
Hemorrhagic Fever ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Host Protein ◽  
Initiation Factor ◽  
Virus Protein ◽  
Human Pathogens ◽  
Viral Polymerase ◽  
And Function

ABSTRACTEbolavirus (EBOV) is an RNA virus that is known to cause severe hemorrhagic fever in humans and other primates.EBOV successfully enters and replicates in many cell types. This replication is dependent on the virus successfully coopting a number of cellular factors. Many of these factors are currently unidentified but represent potential targets for antiviral therapeutics. Here we show that cellular polyamines are critical for EBOV replication. We found that small-molecule inhibitors of polyamine synthesis block gene expression driven by the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. Short hairpin RNA (shRNA) knockdown of the polyamine pathway enzyme spermidine synthase also resulted in reduced EBOV replication. These findings led us to further investigate spermidine, a polyamine that is essential for the hypusination of eukaryotic initiation factor 5A (eIF5A). Blocking the hypusination of eIF5A (and thereby inhibiting its function) inhibited both EBOV gene expression and viral replication. The mechanism appears to be due to the importance of hypusinated eIF5A for the accumulation of VP30, an essential component of the viral polymerase. The same reduction in hypusinated eIF5A did not alter the accumulation of other viral polymerase components. This action makes eIF5A function an important gate for proper EBOV polymerase assembly and function through the control of a single virus protein.IMPORTANCEEbolavirus (EBOV) is one of the most lethal human pathogens known. EBOV requires host factors for replication due to its small RNA genome. Here we show that the host protein eIF5A in its activated form is necessary for EBOV replication. We further show that the mechanism is through the accumulation of a single EBOV protein, VP30. To date, no other host proteins have been shown to interfere with the translation or stability of an EBOV protein. Activated eIF5A is the only protein in the cell known to contain the specific modification of hypusine; therefore, this pathway is a target for drug development. Further investigation into the mechanism of eIF5A interaction with VP30 could provide insight into therapeutics to combat EBOV.

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