Interactions between Viperin, Vesicle-Associated Membrane Protein A, and Hepatitis C Virus Protein NS5A Modulate Viperin Activity and NS5A Degradation

Biochemistry. 2020 Feb 18;59(6):780-789. doi: 10.1021/acs.biochem.9b01090. Epub 2020 Jan 30.

Abstract

The radical SAM enzyme, viperin, exerts a wide range of antiviral effects through both the synthesis of the antiviral nucleotide 3'-deoxy-3',4'-didehydro-CTP (ddhCTP) and through its interactions with various cellular and viral proteins. Here we investigate the interaction of viperin with hepatitis C virus nonstructural protein 5A (NS5A) and the host sterol regulatory protein, vesicle-associated membrane protein A (VAP-33). NS5A and VAP-33 form part of the viral replication complex that is essential for replicating the RNA genome of the hepatitis C virus. Using transfected enzymes in HEK293T cells, we show that viperin binds independently to both NS5A and the C-terminal domain of VAP-33 (VAP-33C) and that this interaction is dependent on the proteins being colocalized to the ER membrane. Coexpression of VAP-33C and NS5A resulted in changes to the catalytic activity of viperin that depended upon viperin being colocalized to the ER membrane. The viperin-NS5A-VAP-33C complex exhibited the lowest specific activity, indicating that NS5A may inhibit viperin's ability to synthesize ddhCTP. Coexpression of viperin with NS5A was also found to significantly reduce cellular NS5A levels, most likely by increasing the rate of proteasomal degradation. An inactive mutant of viperin, unable to bind the iron-sulfur cluster, was similarly effective at reducing cellular NS5A levels.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Enzyme Activation / physiology
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Hepacivirus / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors
  • Protein Binding / physiology
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Proteins / chemistry
  • Proteins / metabolism*
  • Proteolysis*
  • Vesicular Transport Proteins / chemistry
  • Vesicular Transport Proteins / metabolism*
  • Viral Core Proteins / chemistry
  • Viral Core Proteins / metabolism
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins / chemistry
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins / metabolism*
  • Virus Replication / physiology

Substances

  • Proteins
  • VAPA protein, human
  • Vesicular Transport Proteins
  • Viral Core Proteins
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins
  • Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors
  • RSAD2 protein, human
  • NS-5 protein, hepatitis C virus