title: Ebola virus (EBOV) VP24 inhibits transcription and replication of the EBOV genome.
abstract: The roles of Ebola virus (EBOV) VP24 in nucleocapsid (NC) formation and the effect of VP24 on transcription and replication of the viral genome during NC formation remain unknown. We therefore examined the effect of VP24 on the expression of a reporter gene (luciferase), viral RNA, and messenger RNA from the EBOV minigenome. VP24 inhibited the expression of luciferase and both RNAs in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting that VP24 inhibits transcription and replication of the EBOV genome. By contrast, FLAG-tagged VP24, which cannot support NC-like structure formation, did not appreciably decrease luciferase expression, indicating that association of VP24 with the ribonucleoprotein complex is required for inhibition. Glycoprotein and VP40 did not affect VP24-mediated inhibition of transcription and replication. Together, these results suggest that VP24 reduces transcription and replication of the EBOV genome by direct association with the ribonucleoprotein complex in virus-infected cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Noda
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Halfmann
authors.forename: Luke
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jasenosky
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kawaoka
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D004261:DNA Replication; D029043:Ebolavirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D016679:Genome, Viral; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney; D010957:Plasmids; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012367:RNA, Viral; C446938:VP24 protein, Ebola virus; D014764:Viral Proteins