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Focal nuclear envelope lesions and specific nuclear lamin A/C dephosphorylation during infection with human
K D Radsak1, K H Brücher, S D Georgatos
1Institut für Virologie der Philipps-Universität, Marburg Bundesrepublik Deutschland.
Abstract:
Morphological analysis of cytomegalovirus-infected human fibroblasts reveals characteristic alterations of the nuclear envelope during budding of the nucleocapsids from the nucleus. These changes include focal nuclear lamina thickening and formation of "blebs" at the nuclear membranes. Using a specific monoclonal antibody that recognizes a phosphorylated epitope in nuclear lamins A/C, we show here that the cytopathological alterations at the neighborhood of the nuclear lamina are paralleled by a process of systemic dephosphorylation of the nuclear lamins.
Insights
Human fibroblasts infected with human cytomegalovirus (CMV) show nuclear envelope changes. Nuclear lamins A/C undergo dephosphorylation, correlating with these CMV-induced cytopathological alterations.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common pathogen that can cause significant disease in immunocompromised individuals.
- Viral infections often induce changes in host cell nuclear structure and function.
- The nuclear lamina, a structural component of the nucleus, plays a critical role in maintaining nuclear integrity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the morphological changes of the nuclear envelope in human fibroblasts during human cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection.
- To determine the phosphorylation status of nuclear lamins A/C in CMV-infected cells and its correlation with observed nuclear envelope alterations.
Main Methods:
- Morphological analysis of CMV-infected human fibroblasts using light microscopy.
- Immunological detection of phosphorylated nuclear lamins A/C using a specific monoclonal antibody.
Main Results:
- CMV infection induced characteristic alterations in the nuclear envelope, including focal thickening of the nuclear lamina and "bleb" formation.
- These cytopathological changes were accompanied by a systemic dephosphorylation of nuclear lamins A/C.
Conclusions:
- The study demonstrates a link between CMV-induced nuclear envelope pathology and the dephosphorylation of nuclear lamins A/C.
- These findings suggest that alterations in nuclear lamins are a significant component of the cytopathic effect of CMV infection.