MAVI1, an Endoplasmic Reticulum-localized Microprotein, Suppresses Antiviral Innate Immune Response by Targeting MAVS on Mitochondrion

ABSTRACT: Pattern recognition receptors (PRRs)-mediated innate immune responses are critical for host defense against microbial pathogens including RNA/DNA viruses. A growing number of coding genes and genes originally defined as non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are found to encode short peptides or proteins, named microproteins. However, the landscape of microproteins in responsive to virus infection and the functions of these microproteins remain uncharacterized. Here, we systematically identified microproteins, both from coding and non-coding genes, that are responsive to Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV) infection. Among which, a highly conserved, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane-localized microprotein, , MAVI1 (microprotein in antiviral immunity 1), was found to interact with mitochondrial localized MAVS protein, inhibiting the aggregation of MAVS and the activation of downstream type I interferon (IFN) signaling pathway. The critical role of MAVI1 was highlighted that viral infection was significantly attenuated and survival rate was significantly increased in MAVI1 knockout mice in vivo. A peptide inhibitor targeting the interaction between MAVI1 and MAVS is potent in activating the type I IFN signaling and defending viral infection both in vitro and in vivo. Our findings uncovered that microproteins could play critical roles in regulating antiviral innate immune responses via cross-organelle interaction, and targeting microproteins might represent a potential therapeutic avenue for treating viral infection in clinic.

ORGANISM(S): Homo Sapiens

SUBMITTER: Wen Liu  

PROVIDER: PXD039375 | iProX | Thu Jan 12 00:00:00 GMT 2023

REPOSITORIES: iProX