Essential role of hyperacetylated microtubules in innate immunity escape orchestrated by the EBV-encoded BHRF1 protein

PLoS Pathog. 2022 Mar 11;18(3):e1010371. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010371. eCollection 2022 Mar.

Abstract

Innate immunity constitutes the first line of defense against viruses, in which mitochondria play an important role in the induction of the interferon (IFN) response. BHRF1, a multifunctional viral protein expressed during Epstein-Barr virus reactivation, modulates mitochondrial dynamics and disrupts the IFN signaling pathway. Mitochondria are mobile organelles that move through the cytoplasm thanks to the cytoskeleton and in particular the microtubule (MT) network. MTs undergo various post-translational modifications, among them tubulin acetylation. In this study, we demonstrated that BHRF1 induces MT hyperacetylation to escape innate immunity. Indeed, the expression of BHRF1 induces the clustering of shortened mitochondria next to the nucleus. This "mito-aggresome" is organized around the centrosome and its formation is MT-dependent. We also observed that the α-tubulin acetyltransferase ATAT1 interacts with BHRF1. Using ATAT1 knockdown or a non-acetylatable α-tubulin mutant, we demonstrated that this hyperacetylation is necessary for the mito-aggresome formation. Similar results were observed during EBV reactivation. We investigated the mechanism leading to the clustering of mitochondria, and we identified dyneins as motors that are required for mitochondrial clustering. Finally, we demonstrated that BHRF1 needs MT hyperacetylation to block the induction of the IFN response. Moreover, the loss of MT hyperacetylation blocks the localization of autophagosomes close to the mito-aggresome, impeding BHRF1 to initiate mitophagy, which is essential to inhibiting the signaling pathway. Therefore, our results reveal the role of the MT network, and its acetylation level, in the induction of a pro-viral mitophagy.

MeSH terms

  • Epstein-Barr Virus Infections* / immunology
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human / physiology
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Innate*
  • Microtubules / metabolism
  • Mitophagy
  • Tubulin / metabolism
  • Viral Proteins* / metabolism

Substances

  • BHRF1 protein, Human herpesvirus 4
  • Tubulin
  • Viral Proteins

Grants and funding

This work was supported by institutional funding from CNRS and Université Paris Saclay and by grants from DIM MALINF Région IDF to GV and from the Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR) to AE and ML (ANR-14-CE14-0022), and to GB (ANR-20-IDEES-0002). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.