The 3a protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus induces apoptosis in Vero E6 cells.
An outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) occurred in China and the first case emerged in mid-November 2002. The aetiological agent of this disease was found to be a previously unknown coronavirus, SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV). The detailed pathology of SARS-CoV infection and the host response to the viral infection are still not known. The 3a gene encodes a non-structural viral protein, which is predicted to be a transmembrane protein. In this study, it was shown that the 3a protein was expressed in the lungs and intestinal tissues of SARS patients and that the protein localized to the endoplasmic reticulum in 3a-transfected monkey kidney Vero E6 cells. In vitro experiments of chromatin condensation and DNA fragmentation suggested that the 3a protein may trigger apoptosis. These data showed that overexpression of a single SARS-CoV protein can induce apoptosis in vitro.
Law
Patrick T W
PTW
Department of Biochemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong SAR, China.|Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Wong
Chi-Hang
CH
Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Au
Thomas C C
TCC
Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Chuck
Chi-Pang
CP
Department of Biochemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Kong
Siu-Kai
SK
Department of Biochemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Chan
Paul K S
PKS
Department of Microbiology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong SAR, China.
To
Ka-Fai
KF
Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Lo
Anthony W I
AWI
Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Chan
Judy Y W
JYW
Department of Biochemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Suen
Yick-Keung
YK
Department of Biochemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Chan
H Y Edwin
HYE
Department of Biochemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Fung
Kwok-Pui
KP
The Croucher Laboratory for Human Genomics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong SAR, China.|Department of Biochemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Waye
Mary M Y
MMY
The Croucher Laboratory for Human Genomics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong SAR, China.|Department of Biochemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Sung
Joseph J Y
JJY
Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong SAR, China.|Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Lo
Y M Dennis
YMD
Department of Chemical Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong SAR, China.|Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Tsui
Stephen K W
SKW
The Croucher Laboratory for Human Genomics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong SAR, China.|Department of Biochemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong SAR, China.|Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong SAR, China.
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D007422:Intestines / Q000821:virology; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D045473:Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000821:virology; D014709:Vero Cells; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000086082:Viroporin Proteins
C487105:3a protein, SARS-CoV; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins; D000086082:Viroporin Proteins