The autophagy machinery is required to initiate hepatitis C virus replication.
In addition to its cellular homeostasis function, autophagy is emerging as a central component of antimicrobial host defense against diverse infections. To counteract this mechanism, many pathogens have evolved to evade, subvert, or exploit autophagy. Here, we report that autophagy proteins (i.e., Beclin-1, Atg4B, Atg5, and Atg12) are proviral factors required for translation of incoming hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA and, thereby, for initiation of HCV replication, but they are not required once infection is established. These results illustrate a previously unappreciated role for autophagy in the establishment of a viral infection and they suggest that different host factors regulate the translation of incoming viral genome and translation of progeny HCV RNA once replication is established.
Dreux
Marlène
M
Department of Immunology and Microbial Science, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
Gastaminza
Pablo
P
Wieland
Stefan F
SF
Chisari
Francis V
FV
D001343:Autophagy; D002460:Cell Line; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D016679:Genome, Viral; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000737:chemistry; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D016086:Lentivirus / Q000235:genetics; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D010588:Phagosomes / Q000378:metabolism; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000378:metabolism; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D014779:Virus Replication
D006023:Glycoproteins; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014764:Viral Proteins; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins