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Updated: Oct 2, 2025
MicroRNA-based Regulation of Picornavirus Tropism
Published on: February 6, 2017
TMEM106A inhibits enveloped virus release from cell surface
Dexin Mao1,2, Feixiang Yan1,2, Xiaolin Zhang1
1CAS Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 15 Datun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China.
Abstract:
Enveloped viruses pose constant threat to hosts from ocean to land. Virion particle release from cell surface is a critical step in the viral life cycle for most enveloped viruses, making it a common antiviral target for the host defense system. Here we report that host factor TMEM106A inhibits the release of enveloped viruses from the cell surface. TMEM106A is a type II transmembrane protein localized on the plasma membrane and can be incorporated into HIV-1 virion particles. Through intermolecular interactions of its C-terminal domains on virion particle and plasma membrane, TMEM106A traps virion particles to the cell surface. HIV-1 Env interacts with TMEM106A to interfere with the intermolecular interactions and partially suppresses its antiviral activity. TMEM106A orthologs from various species displayed potent antiviral activity against multiple enveloped viruses. These results suggest that TMEM106A is an evolutionarily conserved antiviral factor that inhibits the release of enveloped viruses from the cell surface.
Insights
Host factor TMEM106A acts as a novel antiviral defense, trapping enveloped viruses like HIV-1 to the cell surface. This conserved protein inhibits viral release, offering a new target for antiviral therapies.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Cell Biology
- Immunology
Background:
- Enveloped viruses are a significant threat to host organisms.
- Virion release from host cells is a crucial stage in the viral life cycle and a target for host defense.
- Understanding host factors that regulate viral release is key to developing antiviral strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of host factor TMEM106A in the release of enveloped viruses.
- To elucidate the mechanism by which TMEM106A inhibits viral particle release.
- To assess the antiviral potential of TMEM106A and its orthologs against various enveloped viruses.
Main Methods:
- Investigated the localization and function of TMEM106A in virus-producing cells.
- Analyzed the interaction between TMEM106A, virion particles, and the plasma membrane.
- Examined the effect of HIV-1 Env on TMEM106A antiviral activity.
- Tested TMEM106A orthologs for antiviral activity against multiple enveloped viruses.
Main Results:
- Host factor TMEM106A, a type II transmembrane protein, inhibits the release of enveloped viruses from the cell surface.
- TMEM106A localizes to the plasma membrane and gets incorporated into HIV-1 virions.
- Intermolecular interactions of TMEM106A's C-terminal domains trap virions to the cell surface.
- HIV-1 Env partially suppresses TMEM106A's antiviral activity by interfering with these interactions.
- TMEM106A orthologs exhibit potent antiviral activity against diverse enveloped viruses.
Conclusions:
- TMEM106A is an evolutionarily conserved antiviral factor that restricts enveloped virus release.
- The mechanism involves trapping virions to the cell surface via specific molecular interactions.
- TMEM106A represents a promising target for developing broad-spectrum antiviral therapies.
