Epstein-Barr virus activates F-box protein FBXO2 to limit viral infectivity by targeting glycoprotein B for degradation

PLoS Pathog. 2018 Jul 27;14(7):e1007208. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007208. eCollection 2018 Jul.

Abstract

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a human cancer-related virus closely associated with lymphoid and epithelial malignancies, and EBV glycoprotein B (gB) plays an essential role in viral entry into both B cells and epithelial cells by promoting cell-cell fusion. EBV gB is exclusively modified with high-mannose-linked N-glycans and primarily localizes to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) with low levels on the plasma membrane (PM). However, the mechanism through which gB is regulated within host cells is largely unknown. Here, we report the identification of F-box only protein 2 (FBXO2), an SCF ubiquitin ligase substrate adaptor that preferentially binds high-mannose glycans and attenuates EBV infectivity by targeting N-glycosylated gB for degradation. gB possesses seven N-glycosylation sites, and FBXO2 directly binds to these high-mannose moieties through its sugar-binding domain. The interaction promotes the degradation of glycosylated gB via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Depletion of FBXO2 not only stabilizes gB but also promotes its transport from the ER to the PM, resulting in enhanced membrane fusion and viral entry. FBXO2 is expressed in epithelial cells but not B cells, and EBV infection up-regulates FBXO2 levels. In summary, our findings highlight the significance of high-mannose modification of gB and reveal a novel host defense mechanism involving glycoprotein homeostasis regulation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism*
  • Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / metabolism*
  • F-Box Proteins / metabolism*
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human / metabolism
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human / pathogenicity
  • Host-Parasite Interactions / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism*
  • Viral Envelope Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • F-Box Proteins
  • FBXO2 protein, human
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Viral Envelope Proteins
  • glycoprotein B, human herpesvirus 4

Grants and funding

This study was supported by grants from the National Key R&D Program of China (2017YFA0505600 to LF and 2016YFC0902000 to YXZ), the Key Program of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81430059 to YXZ) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81672980 to LF). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.