Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus nucleocapsid protein does not modulate transcription of the human FGL2 gene.
Among the structural and nonstructural proteins of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), the nucleocapsid (N) protein plays pivotal roles in the biology and pathogenesis of viral infection. N protein is thought to dysregulate cell signalling and the transcription of cellular genes, including FGL2, which encodes a prothrombinase implicated in vascular thrombosis, fibrin deposition and pneumocyte necrosis. Here, we showed that N protein expressed in cultured human cells was predominantly found in the cytoplasm and was competent in repressing the transcriptional activity driven by interferon-stimulated response elements. However, the expression of N protein did not influence the transcription from the FGL2 promoter. More importantly, N protein did not modulate the expression of FGL2 mRNA or protein in transfected or SARS-CoV-infected cells. Taken together, our findings did not support the model in which SARS-CoV N protein specifically modulates transcription of the FGL2 gene to cause fibrosis and vascular thrombosis.
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR.
Kam-Leung
KL
Siu
Ching-Ping
CP
Chan
Chris
C
Chan
Bo-Jian
BJ
Zheng
Dong-Yan
DY
Jin
D002460:Cell Line; D000086462:Coronavirus Nucleocapsid Proteins; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D019590:Nucleocapsid Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D045473:Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D000086462:Coronavirus Nucleocapsid Proteins; C095202:FGL2 protein, human; D019590:Nucleocapsid Proteins; D005340:Fibrinogen