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Updated: Jun 4, 2026

A High Resolution Method to Monitor Phosphorylation-dependent Activation of IRF3
Published on: January 24, 2016
The IRF-3/Bax-mediated apoptotic pathway, activated by viral cytoplasmic RNA and DNA, inhibits virus replication
Saurabh Chattopadhyay1, Michifumi Yamashita, Ying Zhang
1Cleveland Clinic, Department of Molecular Genetics, 9500 Euclid Avenue, NE20, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA. seng@ccf.org
Abstract:
Induction of apoptosis in cells infected by Sendai virus (SeV), which triggers the cytosolic RIG-I pathway, requires the presence of interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF-3). Independent of IRF-3's transcriptional role, a novel IRF-3 activation pathway causes its interaction with the proapoptotic protein Bax and its mitochondrial translocation to induce apoptosis. Here we report that two other RNA viruses, vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) and encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV), may also activate the same pathway. Moreover, cytosolic DNA, produced by adenovirus or introduced by transfection, activated the pathway in an RNA polymerase III-dependent fashion. To evaluate the contribution of this newly discovered apoptotic pathway to the host's overall antiviral response, we measured the efficiencies of replication of various viruses in vitro and viral pathogenesis in vivo, using cells and mice that are selectively deficient in components required for the apoptotic pathway of IRF-3. Our results clearly demonstrate that the IRF-3/Bax-mediated apoptotic signaling branch contributes significantly to the host's protection from viral infection and consequent pathogenesis.
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