Dataset Information

Characteristics of Immediate-Early 2 (IE2) and UL84 Proteins in UL84-Independent Strains of Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV).

ABSTRACT: Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) immediate-early 2 (IE2) protein is the major transactivator for viral gene expression and is required for lytic replication. In addition to transcriptional activation, IE2 is known to mediate transcriptional repression of promoters, including the major immediate-early (MIE) promoter and a bidirectional promoter within the lytic origin of replication (oriLyt). The activity of IE2 is modulated by another viral protein, UL84. UL84 is multifunctional and is proposed to act as the origin-binding protein (OBP) during lytic replication. UL84 specifically interacts with IE2 to relieve IE2-mediated repression at the MIE and oriLyt promoters. Originally, UL84 was thought to be indispensable for viral replication, but recent work demonstrated that some strains of HCMV (TB40E and TR) can replicate independently of UL84. This peculiarity is due to a single amino acid change of IE2 (UL122 H388D). Here, we identified that a UL84-dependent (AD169) Δ84 viral mutant had distinct IE2 localization and was unable to synthesize DNA. We also demonstrated that a TB40E Δ84 IE2 D388H mutant containing the reversed IE2 amino acid switch adopted the phenotype of AD169 Δ84. Further functional experiments, including chromatin-immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq), suggest distinct protein interactions and transactivation function at oriLyt between strains. Together, these data further highlight the complexity of initiation of HCMV viral DNA replication. IMPORTANCE Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised individuals and is also the leading viral cause of congenital birth defects. After initial infection, HCMV establishes a lifelong latent infection with periodic reactivation and lytic replication. During lytic DNA synthesis, IE2 and UL84 have been regarded as essential factors required for initiation of viral DNA replication. However, previous reports identified that some isolates of HCMV can replicate in a UL84-independent manner due to a single amino acid change in IE2 (H388D). These UL84-independent strains are an important consideration, as they may have implications for HCMV disease and research. This has prompted renewed interest into the functional roles of IE2 and UL84. The work presented here focuses on the described functions of UL84 and ascertains if those required functions are fulfilled by IE2 in UL84-independent strains.

SUBMITTER: Manska S

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8557881 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Similar Datasets

Project description:The human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) major immediate-early protein IE2 is a nuclear phosphoprotein that is believed to be a key regulator in both lytic and latent infections. Using yeast two-hybrid screening, small ubiquitin-like modifiers (SUMO-1, SUMO-2, and SUMO-3) and a SUMO-conjugating enzyme (Ubc9) were isolated as IE2-interacting proteins. In vitro binding assays with glutathione S-transferase (GST) fusion proteins provided evidence for direct protein-protein interaction. Mapping data showed that the C-terminal end of SUMO-1 is critical for interaction with IE2 in both yeast and in vitro binding assays. IE2 was efficiently modified by SUMO-1 or SUMO-2 in cotransfected cells and in cells infected with a recombinant adenovirus expressing HCMV IE2, although the level of modification was much lower in HCMV-infected cells. Two lysine residues at positions 175 and 180 were mapped as major alternative SUMO-1 conjugation sites in both cotransfected cells and an in vitro sumoylation assay and could be conjugated by SUMO-1 simultaneously. Although mutations of these lysine residues did not interfere with the POD (or ND10) targeting of IE2, overexpression of SUMO-1 enhanced IE2-mediated transactivation in a promoter-dependent manner in reporter assays. Interestingly, many other cellular proteins identified as IE2 interaction partners in yeast two-hybrid assays also interact with SUMO-1, suggesting that either directly bound or covalently conjugated SUMO moieties may act as a bridge for interactions between IE2 and other SUMO-1-modified or SUMO-1-interacting proteins. When we investigated the intracellular localization of SUMO-1 in HCMV-infected cells, the pattern changed from nuclear punctate to predominantly nuclear diffuse in an IE1-dependent manner at very early times after infection, but with some SUMO-1 protein now associated with IE2 punctate domains. However, at late times after infection, SUMO-1 was predominantly detected within viral DNA replication compartments containing IE2. Taken together, these results show that HCMV infection causes the redistribution of SUMO-1 and that IE2 both physically binds to and is covalently modified by SUMO moieties, suggesting possible modulation of both the function of SUMO-1 and protein-protein interactions of IE2 during HCMV infection.

Dataset Information

Characteristics of Immediate-Early 2 (IE2) and UL84 Proteins in UL84-Independent Strains of Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV).

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets