title: Expression of measles virus nucleoprotein induces apoptosis and modulates diverse functional proteins in cultured mammalian cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Measles virus nucleoprotein (N) encapsidates the viral RNA, protects it from endonucleases and forms a virus specific template for transcription and replication. It is the most abundant protein during viral infection. Its C-terminal domain is intrinsically disordered imparting it the flexibility to interact with several cellular and viral partners.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this study, we demonstrate that expression of N within mammalian cells resulted in morphological transitions, nuclear condensation, DNA fragmentation and activation of Caspase 3 eventuating into apoptosis. The rapid generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) was involved in the mechanism of cell death. Addition of ascorbic acid (AA) or inhibitor of caspase-3 in the extracellular medium partially reversed N induced apoptosis. We also studied the protein profile of cells expressing N protein. MS analysis revealed the differential expression of 25 proteins out of which 11 proteins were up regulated while 14 show signs of down regulation upon N expression. 2DE results were validated by real time and semi quantitative RT-PCR analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results show the pro-apoptotic effects of N indicating its possible development as an apoptogenic tool. Our 2DE results present prima facie evidence that the MV nucleoprotein interacts with or causes differential expression of a wide range of cellular factors. At this stage it is not clear as to what the adaptive response of the host cell is and what reflects a strategic modulation exerted by the virus.
authors.affiliation: Applied Molecular Biology Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Ashima
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bhaskar
authors.forename: Jyoti
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bala
authors.forename: Akhil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Varshney
authors.forename: Pramod
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yadava
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D006801:Humans; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008459:Measles virus / Q000378:metabolism*; D009698:Nucleoproteins / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D009698:Nucleoproteins; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D014764:Viral Proteins; D053148:Caspase 3