Polo-like kinase 1 is involved in hepatitis C virus replication by hyperphosphorylating NS5A

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication involves many viral and host factors. Here, we employed a lentivirus-based RNA interference (RNAi) screening approach to search for possible cellular factors. By using a kinase-phosphatase RNAi library and an HCV replicon reporter system, we identified a serine-threonine kinase, Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1), as a potential host factor regulating HCV replication. Knockdown of Plk1 reduced both HCV RNA replication and nonstructural (NS) protein production in both HCV replicon cells and HCV-infected cells while it did not significantly affect host cellular growth or cell cycle. Overexpression of Plk1 in the knockdown cells rescued HCV replication. Interestingly, the ratio between the hyperphosphorylated form (p58) and the basal phosphorylated form (p56) of NS5A was lower in the Plk1 knockdown cells and Plk1 kinase inhibitor-treated cells than in the control groups. Further studies showed that Plk1 could be immunoprecipitated together with NS5A. Both proteins partially colocalized in the perinuclear region. Furthermore, Plk1 could phosphorylate NS5A to both the p58 and p56 forms in an in vitro assay system; the phosphorylation efficiency was comparable to that of the reported casein kinase. Taken together, this study shows that Plk1 is an NS5A phosphokinase and thereby indirectly regulates HCV RNA replication. Because of the differential effects of Plk1 on HCV replication and host cell growth, Plk1 could potentially serve as a target for anti-HCV therapy.