Cyclophilin C Participates in the US2-Mediated Degradation of Major Histocompatibility Complex Class I Molecules

PLoS One. 2015 Dec 21;10(12):e0145458. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0145458. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Human cytomegalovirus uses a variety of mechanisms to evade immune recognition through major histocompatibility complex class I molecules. One mechanism mediated by the immunoevasin protein US2 causes rapid disposal of newly synthesized class I molecules by the endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation pathway. Although several components of this degradation pathway have been identified, there are still questions concerning how US2 targets class I molecules for degradation. In this study we identify cyclophilin C, a peptidyl prolyl isomerase of the endoplasmic reticulum, as a component of US2-mediated immune evasion. Cyclophilin C could be co-isolated with US2 and with the class I molecule HLA-A2. Furthermore, it was required at a particular expression level since depletion or overexpression of cyclophilin C impaired the degradation of class I molecules. To better characterize the involvement of cyclophilin C in class I degradation, we used LC-MS/MS to detect US2-interacting proteins that were influenced by cyclophilin C expression levels. We identified malectin, PDIA6, and TMEM33 as proteins that increased in association with US2 upon cyclophilin C knockdown. In subsequent validation all were shown to play a functional role in US2 degradation of class I molecules. This was specific to US2 rather than general ER-associated degradation since depletion of these proteins did not impede the degradation of a misfolded substrate, the null Hong Kong variant of α1-antitrypsin.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line
  • Cyclophilin C
  • Cyclophilins / genetics
  • Cyclophilins / metabolism*
  • Cytomegalovirus / pathogenicity
  • Endoplasmic Reticulum-Associated Degradation
  • HLA-A2 Antigen / metabolism
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / metabolism*
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions*
  • Humans
  • Lectins / metabolism
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Protein Disulfide-Isomerases / metabolism
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry
  • Viral Envelope Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Envelope Proteins / metabolism*
  • Viral Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • HLA-A2 Antigen
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I
  • Lectins
  • MLEC protein, human
  • Membrane Proteins
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • US11 protein, herpesvirus
  • US2 protein, Varicellovirus
  • Viral Envelope Proteins
  • Viral Proteins
  • transmembrane protein 33, human
  • cyclophilin B
  • Cyclophilins
  • Cyclophilin C
  • PDIA6 protein, human
  • Protein Disulfide-Isomerases