Cloning and characterization of the antiviral activity of feline Tetherin/BST-2

PLoS One. 2011 Mar 29;6(3):e18247. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0018247.

Abstract

Human Tetherin/BST-2 has recently been identified as a cellular antiviral factor that blocks the release of various enveloped viruses. In this study, we cloned a cDNA fragment encoding a feline homolog of Tetherin/BST-2 and characterized the protein product. The degree of amino acid sequence identity between human Tetherin/BST-2 and the feline homolog was 44.4%. Similar to human Tetherin/BST-2, the expression of feline Tetherin/BST-2 mRNA was inducible by type I interferon (IFN). Exogenous expression of feline Tetherin/BST-2 efficiently inhibited the release of feline endogenous retrovirus RD-114. The extracellular domain of feline Tetherin/BST-2 has two putative N-linked glycosylation sites, N79 and N119. Complete loss of N-linked glycosylation by introduction of mutations into both sites resulted in almost complete abolition of its antiviral activity. In addition, feline Tetherin/BST-2 was insensitive to antagonism by HIV-1 Vpu, although the antiviral activity of human Tetherin/BST-2 was antagonized by HIV-1 Vpu. Our data suggest that feline Tetherin/BST-2 functions as a part of IFN-induced innate immunity against virus infection and that the induction of feline Tetherin/BST-2 in vivo may be effective as a novel antiviral strategy for viral infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Antiviral Agents / metabolism*
  • Cats
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Endogenous Retroviruses / drug effects
  • Endogenous Retroviruses / metabolism
  • Glycosylation / drug effects
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Human Immunodeficiency Virus Proteins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Interferons / pharmacology
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / chemistry
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / genetics*
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / metabolism*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Sequence Analysis, Protein
  • Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins / metabolism
  • Virion / drug effects

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Human Immunodeficiency Virus Proteins
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins
  • vpu protein, Human immunodeficiency virus 1
  • Interferons