Recombinant human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) RL13 binds human immunoglobulin G Fc

PLoS One. 2012;7(11):e50166. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0050166. Epub 2012 Nov 30.

Abstract

The human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) protein RL13 has recently been described to be present in all primary isolates but rapidly mutated in culture adapted viruses. Although these data suggest a crucial role for this gene product in HCMV primary infection, no function has so far been assigned to this protein. Working with RL13 expressed in isolation in transfected human epithelial cells, we demonstrated that recombinant RL13 from the clinical HCMV isolates TR and Merlin have selective human immunoglobulin (Ig)-binding properties towards IgG1 and IgG2 subtypes. An additional Fc binding protein, RL12, was also identified as an IgG1 and IgG2 binding protein but not further characterized. The glycoprotein RL13 trafficked to the plasma membrane where it bound and internalized exogenous IgG or its constant fragment (Fcγ). Analysis of RL13 ectodomain mutants suggested that the RL13 Ig-like domain is responsible for the Fc binding activity. Ligand-dependent internalization relied on a YxxL endocytic motif located in the C-terminal tail of RL13. Additionally, we showed that the tyrosine residue could be replaced by phenylalanine but not by alanine, indicating that the internalization signal was independent from phosphorylation events. In sum, RL13 binds human IgG and may contribute to HCMV immune evasion in the infected host, but this function does not readily explain the instability of the RL13 gene during viral propagation in cultured cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Membrane / immunology
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism*
  • Cell Membrane / virology*
  • Cytomegalovirus / immunology
  • Cytomegalovirus / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Immune Evasion
  • Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments / immunology
  • Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments / metabolism*
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology
  • Immunoglobulin G / metabolism
  • Molecular Mimicry
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Plasmids
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Protein Transport
  • Reassortant Viruses / immunology
  • Reassortant Viruses / metabolism*
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Transfection
  • Viral Proteins / immunology
  • Viral Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Viral Proteins

Grants and funding

This study was supported by Novartis and Ministero dell'Istruzione dell'Università e della Ricerca PON01_00117. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. No additional external funding was received for this study.