title: Identification and characterization of a new E3 ubiquitin ligase in white spot syndrome virus involved in virus latency.
abstract: White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is one major pathogen in shrimp aquaculture. WSSV ORF403 is predicted to encode a protein of 641 amino acids, which contains a C3H2C2 RING structure. In the presence of an E2 conjugating enzyme from shrimp, WSSV403 can ubiquitinate itself in vitro, indicating it can function as a viral E3 ligase. Besides, WSSV403 E3 ligase can be activated by a series of E2 variants. Based on RT-PCR and Real time PCR, we detected transcription of WSSV403 in the commercial specific-pathogen-free (SPF) shrimp, suggesting its role as a latency-associated gene. Identified in yeast two-hybrid screening and verified by pull-down assays, WSSV403 is able to bind to a shrimp protein phosphatase (PPs), which was characterized before as an interaction partner for another latent protein WSSV427. Our studies suggest that WSSV403 is a regulator of latency state of WSSV by virtue of its E3 ligase function.
authors.affiliation: Animal Health Biotechnology, Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore. hefang@tll.org.sg
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Jimmy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kwang
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D033561:Penaeidae / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding; D054829:RING Finger Domains; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017735:Virus Latency; D046848:White spot syndrome virus 1 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D014764:Viral Proteins; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases