Changing the ubiquitin landscape during viral manipulation of the DNA damage response

FEBS Lett. 2011 Sep 16;585(18):2897-906. doi: 10.1016/j.febslet.2011.04.049. Epub 2011 May 5.

Abstract

Viruses often induce signaling through the same cellular cascades that are activated by damage to the cellular genome. Signaling triggered by viral proteins or exogenous DNA delivered by viruses can be beneficial or detrimental to viral infection. Viruses have therefore evolved to dissect the cellular DNA damage response pathway during infection, often marking key cellular regulators with ubiquitin to induce their degradation or change their function. Signaling controlled by ubiquitin or ubiquitin-like proteins has recently emerged as key regulator of the cellular DNA damage response. Situated at the interface between DNA damage signaling and the ubiquitin system, viruses can reveal key convergence points in this important cellular pathway. In this review, we examine how viruses harness the diversity of the cellular ubiquitin system to modulate the DNA damage signaling pathway. We discuss the implications of viral infiltration of this pathway for both the transcriptional program of the virus and for the cellular response to DNA damage.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • DNA Damage*
  • DNA Repair*
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions
  • Humans
  • Signal Transduction
  • Ubiquitin / metabolism*
  • Viral Proteins / metabolism
  • Viral Proteins / physiology
  • Virus Diseases / genetics
  • Virus Diseases / physiopathology*
  • Virus Diseases / virology
  • Viruses / metabolism

Substances

  • Ubiquitin
  • Viral Proteins