Phosphorylation of human respiratory syncytial virus P protein at threonine 108 controls its interaction with the M2-1 protein in the viral RNA polymerase complex

J Gen Virol. 2006 Dec;87(Pt 12):3637-3642. doi: 10.1099/vir.0.82165-0.

Abstract

The human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) P protein is phosphorylated, with different turnover rates, at several serine (S) and threonine (T) residues. The role of phosphothreonines in viral RNA synthesis was studied by using P protein substitution variants and the HRSV-based minigenome pM/SH. By using liquid chromatography coupled to ion-trap mass spectrometry, it was found that P protein T108 was phosphorylated by addition of a high-turnover phosphate group. This phosphorylation occurs in P protein expressed transiently and during HRSV infection. The results suggest that phosphorylation at P protein T108 affects M2-1 transcriptional activities, because this modification prevents interaction between the P and M2-1 proteins. Therefore, P protein phosphorylation-dephosphorylation at T108 could distinguish the role of the P protein in viral transcription and replication.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Substitution
  • Chromatography, Liquid
  • DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / metabolism*
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Mutagenesis, Site-Directed
  • Phosphoproteins / metabolism*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Binding
  • RNA, Viral / biosynthesis
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human / metabolism*
  • Threonine / metabolism
  • Transcription, Genetic
  • Viral Proteins / metabolism*
  • Virus Replication

Substances

  • Phosphoproteins
  • RNA, Viral
  • Viral Proteins
  • Threonine
  • DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases