Participation of cytoskeletal intermediate filaments in the infectious cycle of human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
RSV infection of Hep-2 or HeLa cells leads to biochemical and morphological changes of cytoskeletal intermediate filaments (IF). Thus, human cytokeratin 18 is modified to generate a more acidic polypeptide of slightly larger apparent molecular weight. In addition, the amounts of vimentin and other cytokeratins are reduced, probably as a consequence of proteolytic degradation. These changes are reflected in a decrease of immunofluorescence with specific antibodies in RSV-induced syncytia and a more disorganized arrangement of IF arrays. About 50% of virus nucleoprotein (NP) is extracted with the high salt and detergent-insoluble intermediate filament fraction. Pulse-chase experiments indicate that NP needs a maturation period after synthesis to associate with IF. It is suggested that RSV needs to interact with IF during its life cycle and that association of NP, and/or other viral components, with IF might then lead to cytoskeletal structures becoming unstable in RSV-infected cells.
Garcia-Barreno
B
B
Servicio de Biologia Molecular, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
Jorcano
J L
JL
Aukenbauer
T
T
López-Galíndez
C
C
Melero
J A
JA
D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; D002458:Cell Fractionation; D002460:Cell Line; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000382:microbiology*; D006367:HeLa Cells / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D007382:Intermediate Filaments / Q000382:microbiology*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms; D008970:Molecular Weight; D012136:Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / Q000254:growth & development*
D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins