MXB inhibits murine cytomegalovirus

Abstract

The MX dynamin GTPases inhibit diverse viruses at early post-entry phases. While MXA acts antiviral against influenza viruses, the anti HIV-1 activity of MXB was discovered recently. Here, we have studied the antiviral effect of MX proteins on murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV). Our data demonstrate that human MXB but not other human or murine MX proteins inhibit MCMV propagation. Evidently, the viral protein expression was delayed and the viral DNA amount in nucleus was diminished in MXB expressing cells indicating an obstruction of nuclear entry. Of note, MCMV did not deplete MX proteins. Considering the role of capsid on HIV-1 sensitivity to MXB, MXB binding to tested MCMV capsids was not detected. Moreover, MCMV restriction occurred only when MXB contained both the nuclear localization signal and a functional GTPase domain. Hence, we propose a new mode of inhibition of MCMV by MXB that is conspicuously different from that of HIV-1.

Keywords: Herpesviruses; Innate immunity; MCMV; MXA; MXB; Mouse Mx; Nuclear entry; Restriction factor.