Productive replication of Ebola virus is regulated by the c-Abl1 tyrosine kinase

Sci Transl Med. 2012 Feb 29;4(123):123ra24. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.3003500.

Abstract

Ebola virus causes a fulminant infection in humans resulting in diffuse bleeding, vascular instability, hypotensive shock, and often death. Because of its high mortality and ease of transmission from human to human, Ebola virus remains a biological threat for which effective preventive and therapeutic interventions are needed. An understanding of the mechanisms of Ebola virus pathogenesis is critical for developing antiviral therapeutics. Here, we report that productive replication of Ebola virus is modulated by the c-Abl1 tyrosine kinase. Release of Ebola virus-like particles (VLPs) in a cell culture cotransfection system was inhibited by c-Abl1-specific small interfering RNA (siRNA) or by Abl-specific kinase inhibitors and required tyrosine phosphorylation of the Ebola matrix protein VP40. Expression of c-Abl1 stimulated an increase in phosphorylation of tyrosine 13 (Y(13)) of VP40, and mutation of Y(13) to alanine decreased the release of Ebola VLPs. Productive replication of the highly pathogenic Ebola virus Zaire strain was inhibited by c-Abl1-specific siRNAs or by the Abl-family inhibitor nilotinib by up to four orders of magnitude. These data indicate that c-Abl1 regulates budding or release of filoviruses through a mechanism involving phosphorylation of VP40. This step of the virus life cycle therefore may represent a target for antiviral therapy.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral
  • Ebolavirus / classification
  • Ebolavirus / drug effects
  • Ebolavirus / enzymology*
  • Ebolavirus / genetics
  • Ebolavirus / growth & development
  • Ebolavirus / pathogenicity
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Mutation
  • Nucleoproteins / genetics
  • Nucleoproteins / metabolism
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-abl / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-abl / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-abl / metabolism*
  • Pyrimidines / pharmacology
  • RNA Interference
  • Time Factors
  • Transfection
  • Tyrosine
  • Vero Cells
  • Viral Core Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Core Proteins / metabolism
  • Viral Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Viral Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Proteins / metabolism*
  • Virus Release
  • Virus Replication* / drug effects

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Nucleoproteins
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Pyrimidines
  • Viral Core Proteins
  • Viral Proteins
  • nucleoprotein VP40, Ebola virus
  • Tyrosine
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-abl
  • nilotinib