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Updated: May 5, 2026

Dissecting Innate Immune Signaling in Viral Evasion of Cytokine Production
Published on: March 2, 2014
Independent regulation of reovirus membrane penetration and apoptosis by the mu1 phi domain
Pranav Danthi1, Caroline M Coffey, John S L Parker
1Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA. pdanthi@indiana.edu
Abstract:
Apoptosis plays an important role in the pathogenesis of reovirus encephalitis. Reovirus outer-capsid protein mu1, which functions to penetrate host cell membranes during viral entry, is the primary regulator of apoptosis following reovirus infection. Ectopic expression of full-length and truncated forms of mu1 indicates that the mu1 phi domain is sufficient to elicit a cell death response. To evaluate the contribution of the mu1 phi domain to the induction of apoptosis following reovirus infection, phi mutant viruses were generated by reverse genetics and analyzed for the capacity to penetrate cell membranes and elicit apoptosis. We found that mutations in phi diminish reovirus membrane penetration efficiency by preventing conformational changes that lead to generation of key reovirus entry intermediates. Independent of effects on membrane penetration, amino acid substitutions in phi affect the apoptotic potential of reovirus, suggesting that phi initiates apoptosis subsequent to cytosolic delivery. In comparison to wild-type virus, apoptosis-defective phi mutant viruses display diminished neurovirulence following intracranial inoculation of newborn mice. These results indicate that the phi domain of mu1 plays an important regulatory role in reovirus-induced apoptosis and disease.
Insights
The reovirus mu1 protein
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Cell Biology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Apoptosis is crucial in reovirus encephalitis pathogenesis.
- Reovirus outer-capsid protein mu1 regulates apoptosis during infection.
- The mu1 phi domain is sufficient to trigger cell death.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the mu1 phi domain's role in reovirus-induced apoptosis.
- To generate and analyze phi mutant reoviruses.
- To investigate the relationship between membrane penetration and apoptosis.
Main Methods:
- Reverse genetics used to create phi mutant reoviruses.
- Analysis of viral membrane penetration efficiency.
- Assessment of apoptosis induction and neurovirulence in mice.
Main Results:
- Mutations in the phi domain reduce reovirus membrane penetration.
- The phi domain influences apoptotic potential independently of membrane penetration.
- Apoptosis-defective phi mutant viruses show reduced neurovirulence.
Conclusions:
- The mu1 phi domain is a key regulator of reovirus-induced apoptosis.
- The phi domain initiates apoptosis after viral entry into the cytosol.
- This finding highlights the role of mu1 in reovirus pathogenesis and disease.
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