Chikungunya virus nsP3 blocks stress granule assembly by recruitment of G3BP into cytoplasmic foci

J Virol. 2012 Oct;86(19):10873-9. doi: 10.1128/JVI.01506-12. Epub 2012 Jul 25.

Abstract

Chikungunya virus nonstructural protein nsP3 has an essential but unknown role in alphavirus replication and interacts with Ras-GAP SH3 domain-binding protein (G3BP). Here we describe the first known function of nsP3, to inhibit stress granule assembly by recruiting G3BP into cytoplasmic foci. A conserved SH3 domain-binding motif in nsP3 is essential for both nsP3-G3BP interactions and viral RNA replication. This study reveals a novel role for nsP3 as a regulator of the cellular stress response.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alphavirus Infections / metabolism
  • Alphavirus Infections / virology*
  • Amino Acid Motifs
  • Animals
  • Chikungunya Fever
  • Chikungunya virus / genetics*
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Conserved Sequence
  • Cytoplasm / metabolism*
  • Gene Deletion
  • Models, Genetic
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • RNA, Viral / metabolism
  • Vero Cells
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins / genetics*
  • Virus Replication
  • src Homology Domains

Substances

  • RNA, Viral
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins
  • nsp3 protein, alphavirus