Glucosylceramide synthase maintains influenza virus entry and infection

Influenza virus is an enveloped virus wrapped in a lipid bilayer derived from the host cell plasma membrane. Infection by influenza virus is dependent on these host cell lipids, which include sphingolipids. Here we examined the role of the sphingolipid, glucosylceramide, in influenza virus infection by knocking out the enzyme responsible for its synthesis, glucosylceramide synthase (UGCG). We observed diminished influenza virus infection in HEK 293 and A549 UGCG knockout cells and demonstrated that this is attributed to impaired viral entry. We also observed that entry mediated by the glycoproteins of other enveloped viruses that enter cells by endocytosis is also impaired in UGCG knockout cells, suggesting a broader role for UGCG in viral entry by endocytosis.