Beta-actin interacts with the E2 protein and is involved in the early replication of classical swine fever virus

The E2 glycoprotein of classical swine fever virus (CSFV) is involved in viral infection and induction of neutralizing antibodies. Little is known about how E2 interacts with host cells. To understand the cellular factors involved in viral replication cycle, E2 was used as bait in yeast two-hybrid screens, resulting in the identification of β-actin as a potential E2-interacting partner. E2-β-actin interaction was confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation, GST pulldown, laser confocal and bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays. The E2-interacting domain of β-actin was mapped to amino acids (aa) 95-188 and two β-actin-interacting regions were identified in E2 (aa 182-261 and aa 262-341). Knockdown of β-actin by RNA interference and disruption of filamentous β-actin with cytochalasin D at 4h post-infection caused a significant reduction of viral RNA copies and titers. Collectively, the results indicated that β-actin is involved in the early replication of CSFV.