title: SARS coronavirus 7a protein blocks cell cycle progression at G0/G1 phase via the cyclin D3/pRb pathway.
abstract: The genome of severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) contains four structural genes that are homologous to genes found in other coronaviruses, and also contains six subgroup-specific open reading frames (ORFs). Expression of one of these subgroup-specific genes, ORF7a, resulted in apoptosis via a caspase-dependent pathway. Here, we observed that transient expression of ORF7a protein fused with myc or GFP tags at its N or C terminus inhibited cell growth and prevented BrdU incorporation in different cultural cells, suggesting that ORF7a expression may regulate cell cycle progression. Analysis by flow cytometry demonstrated that ORF7a expression was associated with blockage of cell cycle progression at G0/G1 phase in HEK 293 cells after 24 to 60 h post-transfection. Similar results were observed in COS-7 and Vero cells. Mutation analysis of ORF7a revealed that the domain spanning aa 44-82 of 7a protein was essential for its cytoplasmic localization and for induction of the cell cycle arrest. After analyzing the cellular proteins involving in regulation of cell cycle progression, we demonstrated that ORF7a expression was correlated with a significant reduction of cyclin D3 level of mRNA transcription and expression, and phosphorylation of retinoblastoma (Rb) protein at ser795 and ser809/811, not with the expression of cyclin D1, D2, cdk4 and cdk6 in HEK 293 cells. These results suggest that the insufficient expression of cyclin D3 may cause a decreased activity of cyclin D/cdk4/6, resulting in the inhibition of Rb phosphorylation. Accumulation of hypo- or non-phosphorylated pRb thus prevents cell cycle progression at G0/G1 phase.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology, Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, No. 27 Taiping Road, Beijing 100850, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoling
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Yajun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shan
authors.forename: Zhenyu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Zhenhu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Shenqi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jiapei
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yuwen
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019556:COS Cells; D002460:Cell Line; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D056743:Cyclin D3; D016213:Cyclins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016193:G1 Phase; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009154:Mutation; D010766:Phosphorylation; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016192:Resting Phase, Cell Cycle; D016160:Retinoblastoma Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D045473:Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000502:physiology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014162:Transfection; D014709:Vero Cells; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C534696:CCND3 protein, human; D056743:Cyclin D3; D016213:Cyclins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016160:Retinoblastoma Protein; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins; C488151:sars7a protein, SARS virus