SG formation relies on eIF4GI-G3BP interaction which is targeted by picornavirus stress antagonists

Typical stress granules (tSGs) are stalled translation pre-initiation complex aggregations in the cytoplasm, and their formation is a common consequence of translation initiation inhibition under stress. We previously found that 2A protease of picornaviruses blocks tSG formation and induces atypical SG formation, but the molecular mechanism by which 2A inhibits tSG formation remains unclear. Here, we found that eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4 gamma1 (eIF4GI) is critical for tSG formation by interacting with Ras-GTPase-activating protein SH3-domain-binding protein (G3BP), and this interaction is mediated by aa 182-203 of eIF4GI and the RNA-binding domain of G3BP. Upon eIF4GI-G3BP interaction, eIF4GI can assemble into tSGs and rescue tSG formation. Finally, we found that 2A or L protein of picornaviruses blocks tSG formation by disrupting eIF4GI-G3BP interaction. Our findings provide the first evidence that eIF4GI-G3BP interaction is indispensable for tSG formation, and 2A or L protein of picornaviruses interferes eIF4GI-G3BP interaction, thereby blocking tSG formation.