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Human Cytomegalovirus UL135 Interacts with Host Adaptor Proteins To Regulate Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor and Reactivation from Latency. J Virol 2018 Oct 15;92(20)

Date

08/10/2018

Pubmed ID

30089695

Pubmed Central ID

PMC6158428

DOI

10.1128/JVI.00919-18

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85052151483 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   30 Citations

Abstract

Human cytomegalovirus, HCMV, is a betaherpesvirus that establishes a lifelong latent infection in its host that is marked by recurrent episodes of reactivation. The molecular mechanisms by which the virus and host regulate entry into and exit from latency remain poorly understood. We have previously reported that UL135 is critical for reactivation, functioning in part by overcoming suppressive effects of the latency determinant UL138 We have demonstrated a role for UL135 in diminishing cell surface levels and targeting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) for turnover. The attenuation of EGFR signaling promotes HCMV reactivation in combination with cellular differentiation. In this study, we sought to define the mechanisms by which UL135 functions in regulating EGFR turnover and viral reactivation. Screens to identify proteins interacting with pUL135 identified two host adaptor proteins, CIN85 and Abi-1, with overlapping activities in regulating EGFR levels in the cell. We mapped the amino acids in pUL135 necessary for interaction with Abi-1 and CIN85 and generated recombinant viruses expressing variants of pUL135 that do not interact with CIN85 or Abi-1. These recombinant viruses replicate in fibroblasts but are defective for reactivation in an experimental model for latency using primary CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs). These UL135 variants have altered trafficking of EGFR and are defective in targeting EGFR for turnover. These studies demonstrate a requirement for pUL135 interactions with Abi-1 and CIN85 for regulation of EGFR and mechanistically link the regulation of EGFR to reactivation.IMPORTANCE Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) establishes a lifelong latent infection in the human host. While the infection is typically asymptomatic in healthy individuals, HCMV infection poses life-threatening disease risk in immunocompromised individuals and is the leading cause of birth defects. Understanding how HCMV controls the lifelong latent infection and reactivation of replication from latency is critical to developing strategies to control HCMV disease. Here, we identify the host factors targeted by a viral protein that is required for reactivation. We define the importance of this virus-host interaction in reactivation from latency, providing new insights into the molecular underpinnings of HCMV latency and reactivation.

Author List

Rak MA, Buehler J, Zeltzer S, Reitsma J, Molina B, Terhune S, Goodrum F

Author

Scott Terhune PhD Professor in the Microbiology and Immunology department at Medical College of Wisconsin




MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
Amino Acid Substitution
Animals
Cells, Cultured
Cytomegalovirus
Cytoskeletal Proteins
DNA Mutational Analysis
ErbB Receptors
Gene Expression Regulation
Host-Pathogen Interactions
Humans
Mutant Proteins
Protein Interaction Mapping
Reverse Genetics
Viral Proteins
Virus Activation
Virus Replication