Project description:RNA silencing is a post-transcriptional gene-silencing mechanism mediated by microRNAs (miRNAs). However, the regulatory mechanism of RNA silencing during viral infection is unclear. TAR RNA-binding protein (TRBP) is an enhancer of RNA silencing that induces miRNA maturation by interacting with the ribonuclease Dicer. TRBP interacts with a virus sensor protein, laboratory of genetics and physiology 2 (LGP2), in the early stage of viral infection of human cells. Next, it induces apoptosis by inhibiting the maturation of miRNAs, thereby upregulating the expression of apoptosis regulatory genes. In this study, we show that TRBP undergoes a functional conversion in the late stage of viral infection. Viral infection resulted in the activation of caspases that proteolytically processed TRBP into two fragments. The N-terminal fragment did not interact with Dicer but interacted with type I interferon (IFN) signaling modulators, such as protein kinase R (PKR) and LGP2, and induced ER stress. The end results were irreversible apoptosis and suppression of IFN signaling. Our results demonstrate that the processing of TRBP enhances apoptosis, reducing IFN signaling during viral infection.
Project description:RNA silencing is a post-transcriptional gene-silencing mechanism mediated by microRNAs (miRNAs). However, the regulatory mechanism of RNA silencing during viral infection is unclear. TAR RNA-binding protein (TRBP) is an enhancer of RNA silencing that induces miRNA maturation by interacting with the ribonuclease Dicer. TRBP interacts with a virus sensor protein, laboratory of genetics and physiology 2 (LGP2), in the early stage of viral infection of human cells. Next, it induces apoptosis by inhibiting the maturation of miRNAs, thereby upregulating the expression of apoptosis regulatory genes. In this study, we show that TRBP undergoes a functional conversion in the late stage of viral infection. Viral infection resulted in the activation of caspases that proteolytically processed TRBP into two fragments. The N-terminal fragment did not interact with Dicer but interacted with type I interferon (IFN) signaling modulators, such as protein kinase R (PKR) and LGP2, and induced ER stress. The end results were irreversible apoptosis and suppression of IFN signaling. Our results demonstrate that the processing of TRBP enhances apoptosis, reducing IFN signaling during viral infection.
Project description:TRBP has two known functions as Dicer co-factor and PKR inhibitor. However, the role of TRBP in miRNA biogenesis is controversial and its regulation of PKR in mitosis remains unexplored. Here, we generate TRBP KO HeLa cells and find that TRBP depletion alters Dicer processing sites of a subset of miRNAs, but does not affect Dicer stability, miRNA abundance, or Argonaute loading. By generating PACT, another Dicer interactor, and TRBP/PACT double-KO cells, we further show that TRBP and PACT do not functionally compensate each other and that only TRBP contributes to Dicer processing. We also report that TRBP is hyperphosphorylated by JNK in M phase when PKR is activated by cellular dsRNAs. Hyperphosphorylation potentiates the inhibitory activity of TRBP on PKR, suppressing PKR in M-G1 transition. By generating the first human TRBP KO, our study clarifies the role of TRBP and unveils negative feedback regulation of PKR through TRBP phosphorylation.
Project description:TRBP has two known functions as Dicer co-factor and PKR inhibitor. However, the role of TRBP in miRNA biogenesis is controversial and its regulation of PKR in mitosis remains unexplored. Here, we generate TRBP KO HeLa cells and find that TRBP depletion alters Dicer processing sites of a subset of miRNAs, but does not affect Dicer stability, miRNA abundance, or Argonaute loading. By generating PACT, another Dicer interactor, and TRBP/PACT double-KO cells, we further show that TRBP and PACT do not functionally compensate each other and that only TRBP contributes to Dicer processing. We also report that TRBP is hyperphosphorylated by JNK in M phase when PKR is activated by cellular dsRNAs. Hyperphosphorylation potentiates the inhibitory activity of TRBP on PKR, suppressing PKR in M-G1 transition. By generating the first human TRBP KO, our study clarifies the role of TRBP and unveils negative feedback regulation of PKR through TRBP phosphorylation. small RNAs of wild type, TRBP knockout, PACT knockout and TRBP/PACT double knockout cells were sequenced by Illumina Miseq.
Project description:SARS-CoV-2 is a highly transmissible virus that causes COVID-19 disease. Mechanisms of viral pathogenesis include excessive inflammation and viral-induced cell death, resulting in tissue damage. We identified the host E3-ubiquitin ligase TRIM7 as an inhibitor of apoptosis and SARS-CoV-2 replication via ubiquitination of the viral membrane (M) protein. Trim7-/- mice exhibited increased pathology and virus titers associated with epithelial apoptosis and dysregulated immune responses. Mechanistically, TRIM7 ubiquitinates M on K14, which protects cells from cell death. Longitudinal SARS-CoV-2 sequence analysis from infected patients revealed that mutations on M-K14 appeared in circulating variants during the pandemic. The relevance of these mutations was tested in a mouse model. A recombinant M-K14/K15R virus showed reduced viral replication, consistent with the role of K15 in virus assembly, and increased levels of apoptosis associated with the loss of ubiquitination on K14. TRIM7 antiviral activity requires caspase-6 inhibition, linking apoptosis with viral replication and pathology.