Nucleolin interacts with the feline calicivirus 3' untranslated region and the protease-polymerase NS6 and NS7 proteins, playing a role in virus replication

J Virol. 2011 Aug;85(16):8056-68. doi: 10.1128/JVI.01878-10. Epub 2011 Jun 15.

Abstract

Cellular proteins play many important roles during the life cycle of all viruses. Specifically, host cell nucleic acid-binding proteins interact with viral components of positive-stranded RNA viruses and regulate viral translation, as well as RNA replication. Here, we report that nucleolin, a ubiquitous multifunctional nucleolar shuttling phosphoprotein, interacts with the Norwalk virus and feline calicivirus (FCV) genomic 3' untranslated regions (UTRs). Nucleolin can also form a complex in vitro with recombinant Norwalk virus NS6 and -7 (NS6/7) and can be copurified with the analogous protein from feline calicivirus (p76 or NS6/7) from infected feline kidney cells. Nucleolin RNA levels or protein were not modified during FCV infection; however, as a consequence of the infection, nucleolin was seen to relocalize from the nucleoli to the nucleoplasm, as well as to the perinuclear area where it colocalizes with the feline calicivirus NS6/7 protein. In addition, antibodies to nucleolin were able to precipitate viral RNA from feline calicivirus-infected cells, indicating a direct or indirect association of nucleolin with the viral RNA during virus replication. Small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated knockdown of nucleolin resulted in a reduction of the cytopathic effect and virus yield in CrFK cells. Taken together, these results demonstrate that nucleolin is a nucleolar component that interacts with viral RNA and NS6/7 and is required for feline calicivirus replication.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 3' Untranslated Regions*
  • Animals
  • Calicivirus, Feline / genetics
  • Calicivirus, Feline / metabolism
  • Calicivirus, Feline / physiology*
  • Cats
  • Cell Line
  • Kidney / virology
  • Norwalk virus / genetics
  • Norwalk virus / metabolism
  • Nucleolin
  • Peptide Hydrolases
  • Phosphoproteins / genetics
  • Phosphoproteins / metabolism*
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • RNA, Viral / genetics
  • RNA, Viral / metabolism
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Viral Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Proteins / metabolism*
  • Virus Replication*

Substances

  • 3' Untranslated Regions
  • Phosphoproteins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • RNA, Viral
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • Viral Proteins
  • Peptide Hydrolases