Host protein Snapin interacts with human cytomegalovirus pUL130 and affects viral DNA replication

J Biosci. 2016 Jun;41(2):173-82. doi: 10.1007/s12038-016-9604-2.

Abstract

The interplay between the host and Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) plays a pivotal role in the outcome of an infection. HCMV growth in endothelial and epithelial cells requires expression of viral proteins UL128, UL130, and UL131 proteins (UL128-131), of which UL130 is the largest gene and the only one that is not interrupted by introns.Mutation of the C terminus of the UL130 protein causes reduced tropism of endothelial cells (EC). However, very few host factors have been identified that interact with the UL130 protein. In this study, HCMV UL130 protein was shown to directly interact with the human protein Snapin in human embryonic kidney HEK293 cells by Yeast two-hybrid screening, in vitro glutathione S-transferase (GST) pull-down, and co-immunoprecipitation. Additionally, heterologous expression of protein UL130 revealed co-localization with Snapin in the cell membrane and cytoplasm of HEK293 cells using fluorescence confocal microscopy. Furthermore, decreasing the level of Snapin via specific small interfering RNAs decreased the number of viral DNA copies and titer inHCMV-infected U373-S cells. Taken together, these results suggest that Snapin, the pUL130 interacting protein, has a role in modulating HCMV DNA synthesis.

MeSH terms

  • Cell Membrane / virology
  • Cytomegalovirus / genetics*
  • Cytomegalovirus / pathogenicity
  • Cytomegalovirus Infections / genetics*
  • Cytomegalovirus Infections / virology
  • Cytoplasm / virology
  • DNA, Viral / biosynthesis
  • DNA, Viral / genetics
  • Epithelial Cells / virology
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Viral
  • Glutathione Transferase / genetics
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Host-Parasite Interactions / genetics
  • Humans
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / biosynthesis
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / genetics*
  • Mutation
  • Protein Binding
  • Vesicular Transport Proteins / genetics*
  • Vesicular Transport Proteins / metabolism
  • Viral Envelope Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Viral Envelope Proteins / genetics*

Substances

  • DNA, Viral
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • SNAPIN protein, human
  • UL128 protein, human cytomegalovirus
  • UL130 protein, human cytomegalovirus
  • Vesicular Transport Proteins
  • Viral Envelope Proteins
  • Glutathione Transferase