Cellular hnRNP A2/B1 interacts with the NP of influenza A virus and impacts viral replication

PLoS One. 2017 Nov 16;12(11):e0188214. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0188214. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

The viral ribonucleoprotein (vRNP) of influenza A virus is formed by virion RNA (vRNA), viral polymerase complex, and nucleoprotein (NP). The NP plays an important role in facilitating the replication and stabilization of viral RNA. To explore host factors that may be involved in the regulation of viral replication through interactions with NP, we conducted an immunoprecipitation experiment followed by mass spectrometry to identify NP-associated cellular proteins. Here, we demonstrate that NP can interact and colocalize with heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) A2/B1 in mammalian cells and that the interaction may occur via direct binding to the glycine-rich domain (GRD) of hnRNP A2/B1. In addition, two residues in the tail loop of NP, F412 and R422, are required for the interaction of hnRNP A2/B1. Because the knockdown of hnRNP A2/B1 expression reduces viral RNP activity, hnRNP A2/B1 may act as a positive regulator in viral RNA synthesis of influenza A virus. More importantly, the findings in this research demonstrate that host proteins can regulate the replication of influenza A virus by interacting with NP.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Dogs
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein Group A-B / genetics
  • Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein Group A-B / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Influenza A virus / genetics
  • Influenza A virus / physiology*
  • Nucleoproteins / metabolism*
  • Protein Binding
  • RNA, Viral / genetics
  • Viral Proteins / metabolism*
  • Virus Replication*

Substances

  • Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein Group A-B
  • Nucleoproteins
  • RNA, Viral
  • Viral Proteins
  • hnRNP A2

Grants and funding

This research was supported by grants from Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (https://www.cgmh.org.tw): to SRS (grant numbers: CMRPD1D0041~43 and BMRP367), and to RLK (grant numbers: CMRPD1E0441~43 and BMRPC09). The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.