Interactions between metal binding viral proteins and human targets as revealed by network-based bioinformatics

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Bioinformatics
• Computational Biology

Background:

• The role of metal ions in virus-host interactions remains largely unexplored.
• Metal ions are crucial for various biological processes, including viral replication and pathogenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To computationally identify viral metalloproteomes and their interacting human proteins.
• To classify viral metalloprotein features based on bound metal type.
• To investigate potential links between viral metalloproteins and neurological disorders.

Main Methods:

• Identification of metalloproteomes for 226 viruses using computational approaches.
• Network-based bioinformatics to retrieve human proteins interacting with viral metalloproteomes.
• In silico gene network analysis to examine links with neurological disorders.

Main Results:

• Putative zinc, manganese, magnesium, and iron metalloproteomes of 226 viruses were identified.
• Viral metalloproteins were classified by bound metal, revealing distinct protein features.
• Potential perturbations of host cellular metal homeostasis by viral metal binders were discussed.
• In silico analysis suggested molecular linkages between viral metalloproteins and twelve neurological disorders.

Conclusions:

• Metal ions play a significant, yet underappreciated, role in virus-host interactions.
• Viral metalloproteomes represent a novel target for understanding viral pathogenesis and host responses.
• Further research into viral metalloproteins could elucidate mechanisms underlying neurological disorders.