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Pseudorabies virus US3 protein kinase mediates actin stress fiber breakdown
Geert Van Minnebruggen1, Herman W Favoreel, Liesbeth Jacobs
1Laboratory of Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
Abstract:
Disruption of specific components of the host cytoskeleton has been reported for several viruses and is thought to be beneficial for viral replication and spread. Our previous work demonstrated that infection of swine kidney (SK-6) cells with pseudorabies virus (PRV), a swine alphaherpesvirus, induced actin stress fiber breakdown. In the present study, using several PRV deletion mutants, we found that the US3 serine/threonine (S/T) protein kinase is involved in breakdown of actin stress fibers in different PRV-infected cell lines. Further, by transfection assays, we showed that PRV US3 itself, in the absence of other viral proteins, is able to trigger actin stress fiber breakdown when it is localized in sufficient amounts in the nucleus.
Insights
Pseudorabies virus (PRV) infection disrupts host cell actin stress fibers. The viral US3 serine/threonine protein kinase is key to this disruption, even when US3 acts alone.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Viral infections can disrupt host cytoskeleton, aiding viral replication.
- Pseudorabies virus (PRV), a swine alphaherpesvirus, previously shown to induce actin stress fiber breakdown in swine kidney cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the specific viral component responsible for PRV-induced actin stress fiber breakdown.
- To investigate the role of the US3 protein kinase in cytoskeletal disruption.
Main Methods:
- Utilized PRV deletion mutants to analyze viral protein functions.
- Employed transfection assays to study the US3 protein kinase independently.
- Examined actin stress fiber integrity in infected and transfected cells.
Main Results:
- The US3 serine/threonine (S/T) protein kinase was identified as the viral factor responsible for actin stress fiber breakdown.
- PRV US3 alone, when sufficiently localized in the nucleus, can induce actin stress fiber breakdown.
- This effect was observed across different cell lines infected with PRV.
Conclusions:
- The PRV US3 protein kinase is a critical determinant of viral-induced actin cytoskeletal disruption.
- US3 kinase activity is sufficient to cause actin stress fiber breakdown, highlighting its significant role in viral pathogenesis.