The African swine fever virus dynein-binding protein p54 induces infected cell apoptosis.
A specific interaction of ASFV p54 protein with 8 kDa light chain cytoplasmic dynein (DLC8) has been previously characterized and this interaction is critical during virus internalization and transport to factory sites. During early phases of infection, the virus induces the initiation of apoptosis triggering activation of caspase-9 and -3. To analyze the role of the structural protein p54 in apoptosis, transient expression experiments of p54 in Vero cells were carried out which resulted in effector caspase-3 activation and apoptosis. Interestingly, p54 mutants, lacking the 13 aa dynein-binding motif lose caspase activation ability and pro-death function of p54. This is the first reported ASFV protein which induces apoptosis.
Hernáez
Bruno
B
Dpto. Biotecnología, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), Ctra. de la Coruña Km 7, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
Díaz-Gil
Gema
G
García-Gallo
Mónica
M
Ignacio Quetglas
José
J
Rodríguez-Crespo
Ignacio
I
Dixon
Linda
L
Escribano
José M
JM
Alonso
Covadonga
C
D000358:African Swine Fever Virus / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001483:Base Sequence; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D017931:DNA Primers; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D005814:Genes, Viral; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000821:virology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017384:Sequence Deletion; D014162:Transfection; D014709:Vero Cells; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015678:Viral Structural Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology*
D017931:DNA Primers; D014764:Viral Proteins; D015678:Viral Structural Proteins; C093921:p54 protein, African swine fever virus; D020169:Caspases