Regulation of microtubule assembly and stability by the transactivator of transcription protein of Jembrana disease virus

J Biol Chem. 2007 Sep 28;282(39):28800-28806. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M702823200. Epub 2007 Jul 26.

Abstract

Microtubules are cytoskeletal polymers consisting of tubulin subunits that take part in diverse cell activities. Many viruses hijack cellular motor proteins to move on microtubules toward the cell interior during the entry process and toward the plasma membrane during the egress period. In addition, viruses often remodel microtubules to facilitate the generation of infectious progeny. In this study, we found that the transactivator of transcription protein of Jembrana disease virus (Jtat) bound tubulin and microtubules both in cells and in the purified system. Microtubule co-sedimentation and co-localization assays revealed a robust interaction of Jtat with microtubules. Tubulin turbidity assay further showed that Jtat promoted tubulin polymerization in vitro in a concentration-dependent manner. Moreover, Jtat promoted the partitioning of cellular tubulin toward the polymeric form, increased the level of tubulin acetylation, and significantly enhanced the cold stability of cellular microtubules. In addition, Jtat-mediated disruption of microtubule dynamics induced the release of Bim from microtubules, leading to profound apoptosis. These results not only identify Jtat as an important viral regulator of microtubule dynamics but also indicate that Jtat-induced apoptosis might contribute to Jembrana disease pathogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetylation
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / chemistry
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / metabolism
  • Apoptosis*
  • Bcl-2-Like Protein 11
  • Cattle
  • Cell Line
  • Cell-Free System
  • Humans
  • Lentiviruses, Bovine / chemistry
  • Lentiviruses, Bovine / pathogenicity
  • Lentiviruses, Bovine / physiology*
  • Membrane Proteins / chemistry
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Microtubules / chemistry
  • Microtubules / metabolism*
  • Microtubules / virology
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / chemistry
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Trans-Activators / chemistry
  • Trans-Activators / metabolism*
  • Tubulin / chemistry
  • Tubulin / metabolism*
  • Virus Internalization*

Substances

  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
  • BCL2L11 protein, human
  • Bcl-2-Like Protein 11
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Trans-Activators
  • Tubulin