Hepatitis Delta Virus histone mimicry drives the recruitment of chromatin remodelers for viral RNA replication

Nat Commun. 2020 Jan 21;11(1):419. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-14299-9.

Abstract

Hepatitis Delta virus (HDV) is a satellite of Hepatitis B virus with a single-stranded circular RNA genome. HDV RNA genome synthesis is carried out in infected cells by cellular RNA polymerases with the assistance of the small hepatitis delta antigen (S-HDAg). Here we show that S-HDAg binds the bromodomain (BRD) adjacent to zinc finger domain 2B (BAZ2B) protein, a regulatory subunit of BAZ2B-associated remodeling factor (BRF) ISWI chromatin remodeling complexes. shRNA-mediated silencing of BAZ2B or its inactivation with the BAZ2B BRD inhibitor GSK2801 impairs HDV replication in HDV-infected human hepatocytes. S-HDAg contains a short linear interacting motif (SLiM) KacXXR, similar to the one recognized by BAZ2B BRD in histone H3. We found that the integrity of the S-HDAg SLiM sequence is required for S-HDAg interaction with BAZ2B BRD and for HDV RNA replication. Our results suggest that S-HDAg uses a histone mimicry strategy to co-activate the RNA polymerase II-dependent synthesis of HDV RNA and sustain HDV replication.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line
  • Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly / immunology*
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • Hepatitis B virus
  • Hepatitis Delta Virus / pathogenicity
  • Hepatitis Delta Virus / physiology*
  • Hepatitis delta Antigens / immunology
  • Hepatitis delta Antigens / metabolism*
  • Histones / immunology
  • Histones / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Molecular Mimicry / immunology*
  • Protein Domains / immunology
  • Proteins / genetics
  • Proteins / metabolism*
  • RNA Polymerase II / metabolism
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism
  • RNA, Viral / metabolism
  • Transcription Factors, General
  • Virus Replication / immunology

Substances

  • BAZ2B protein, human
  • Hepatitis delta Antigens
  • Histones
  • Proteins
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • RNA, Viral
  • Transcription Factors, General
  • RNA Polymerase II