The NSP3 protein of SARS-CoV-2 binds fragile X mental retardation proteins to disrupt UBAP2L binding
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ABSTRACT: Viruses interact with numerous host factors to facilitate viral replication and to dampen antiviral defense mechanisms. We currently have a limited mechanistic understanding of how SARS-CoV-2 binds host factors and the functional role of these interactions. Here, we uncover a novel interaction between the viral NSP3 protein and the fragile X mental retardation proteins (FMRPs: FMR1 and FXR1-2). SARS-CoV-2 NSP3 mutant viruses preventing FMRP binding have slightly attenuated replication in vitro and reduced levels of viral antigen in lungs during early stages of infection. We show that a unique peptide motif in NSP3 binds directly to the two central KH domains of FMRPs and that this interaction is disrupted by the I304N mutation found in a patient with fragile X syndrome. NSP3 binding to FMRPs disrupts their interaction with the stress granule component UBAP2L through direct competition with a peptide motif in UBAP2L to prevent FMRP incorporation into stress granules. Collectively, our results provide novel insight into how SARS-CoV-2 hijacks host cell proteins and provides molecular insight to the possible underlying molecular defects in fragile X syndrome.
INSTRUMENT(S): Orbitrap Exploris 480, timsTOF SCP
ORGANISM(S): Homo Sapiens (human)
TISSUE(S): Epithelial Cell
DISEASE(S): Covid-19
SUBMITTER: Fabian Coscia
LAB HEAD: Prof. Dr. Jakob Nilsson
PROVIDER: PXD047232 | Pride | 2023-12-28
REPOSITORIES: Pride
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