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Gao W, Wang L, Cui W, Wang H, Huang G, Li Z, Li G, Zhang W. Deubiquitinase USP1 regulates sarbecovirus ORF6 protein function. J Virol 2024; 98:e0143723. [PMID: 38084957 PMCID: PMC10804995 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01437-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 belongs to the subgenus Sarbecovirus, which universally encodes the accessory protein ORF6. SARS-CoV-2 ORF6 is an antagonist of the interferon (IFN)-mediated antiviral response and plays an important role in viral infections. However, the mechanism by which the host counteracts the function of ORF6 to restrict viral replication remains unclear. In this study, we found that most ORF6 proteins encoded by sarbecoviruses could be ubiquitinated and subsequently degraded via the proteasome pathway. Through extensive screening, we identified that the deubiquitinase USP1, which effectively and broadly deubiquitinates sarbecovirus ORF6 proteins, stabilizes ORF6 proteins, resulting in enhanced viral replication. Therefore, ubiquitination and deubiquitination of ORF6 are important for antagonizing IFN-mediated antiviral signaling and influencing the virulence of SARS-CoV-2. These findings highlight an essential molecular mechanism and may provide a novel target for therapeutic interventions against viral infections.IMPORTANCEThe ORF6 proteins encoded by sarbecoviruses are essential for effective viral replication and infection and are important targets for developing effective intervention strategies. In this study, we confirmed that sarbecovirus ORF6 proteins are important antagonists of the host immune response and identified the regulatory mechanisms of ubiquitination and deubiquitination of most sarbecovirus ORF6 proteins. Moreover, we revealed that DUB USP1 prevents the proteasomal degradation of all ORF6 proteins, thereby promoting the virulence of SARS-CoV-2. Thus, impeding ORF6 function is helpful for attenuating the virulence of sarbecoviruses. Therefore, our findings provide a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying sarbecovirus infections and offer potential new therapeutic targets for the prevention and treatment of these infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenying Gao
- Center for Pathogen Biology and Infectious Diseases, Institute of Virology and AIDS Research, Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Transplantation of The Ministry of Education, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Liuli Wang
- College of Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Wenzhe Cui
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory on Molecular and Chemical Genetics, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Hongfei Wang
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory on Molecular and Chemical Genetics, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Guofeng Huang
- Center for Pathogen Biology and Infectious Diseases, Institute of Virology and AIDS Research, Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Transplantation of The Ministry of Education, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Zhaolong Li
- Center for Pathogen Biology and Infectious Diseases, Institute of Virology and AIDS Research, Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Transplantation of The Ministry of Education, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Guangquan Li
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory on Molecular and Chemical Genetics, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Wenyan Zhang
- Center for Pathogen Biology and Infectious Diseases, Institute of Virology and AIDS Research, Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Transplantation of The Ministry of Education, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
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Chen X, Tian L, Zhang L, Gao W, Yu M, Li Z, Zhang W. Deubiquitinase USP39 promotes SARS-CoV-2 replication by deubiquitinating and stabilizing the envelope protein. Antiviral Res 2024; 221:105790. [PMID: 38158131 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2023.105790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 envelope (E) protein is highly conserved among different viral variants and important for viral assembly and production. Our recent study found that the E protein is ubiquitinated and degraded by the E3 ligase RNF5 through the proteasome pathway. However, whether E ubiquitination can be reversed by host deubiquitinase has not yet been determined. Here, we identify by mass spectrum analysis that the deubiquitinases USP14 and USP39 specifically interact with E, while USP39 potently reverses E polyubiquitination. USP39 interacts with E via the arginine-rich motif (AR) and deubiquitinates E polyubiquitination via the inactive ubiquitin-specific protease domain. Therefore, USP39 protects E from RNF5-mediated degradation, resulting in the enhancement of E stability and E-induced cytokine storms. Moreover, loss-and-gain assays demonstrated that USP39 promotes the replication of various SARS-CoV-2 strains by stabilizing protein level of E that can be ubiquitinated but not other viral proteins. Our findings provide useful targets for the development of novel anti-SARS-CoV-2 strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Chen
- Institute of Virology and AIDS Research, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China
| | - Li Tian
- Institute of Virology and AIDS Research, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China
| | - Linran Zhang
- Institute of Virology and AIDS Research, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China
| | - Wenying Gao
- Institute of Virology and AIDS Research, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China
| | - Miao Yu
- Institute of Virology and AIDS Research, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China
| | - Zhaolong Li
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Infectious Diseases and Pathogen Biology Center, Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Transplantation of the Ministry of Education, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China; Institute of Virology and AIDS Research, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China.
| | - Wenyan Zhang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Infectious Diseases and Pathogen Biology Center, Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Transplantation of the Ministry of Education, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China; Institute of Virology and AIDS Research, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China.
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Liang T, Li G, Lu Y, Hu M, Ma X. The Involvement of Ubiquitination and SUMOylation in Retroviruses Infection and Latency. Viruses 2023; 15:v15040985. [PMID: 37112965 PMCID: PMC10144533 DOI: 10.3390/v15040985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 04/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Retroviruses, especially the pathogenic human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), have severely threatened human health for decades. Retroviruses can form stable latent reservoirs via retroviral DNA integration into the host genome, and then be temporarily transcriptional silencing in infected cells, which makes retroviral infection incurable. Although many cellular restriction factors interfere with various steps of the life cycle of retroviruses and the formation of viral latency, viruses can utilize viral proteins or hijack cellular factors to evade intracellular immunity. Many post-translational modifications play key roles in the cross-talking between the cellular and viral proteins, which has greatly determined the fate of retroviral infection. Here, we reviewed recent advances in the regulation of ubiquitination and SUMOylation in the infection and latency of retroviruses, focusing on both host defense- and virus counterattack-related ubiquitination and SUMOylation system. We also summarized the development of ubiquitination- and SUMOylation-targeted anti-retroviral drugs and discussed their therapeutic potential. Manipulating ubiquitination or SUMOylation pathways by targeted drugs could be a promising strategy to achieve a "sterilizing cure" or "functional cure" of retroviral infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taizhen Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 511400, China
- Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou International Bio-Island, Guangzhou 510005, China
| | - Guojie Li
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 511400, China
- Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou International Bio-Island, Guangzhou 510005, China
| | - Yunfei Lu
- Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou International Bio-Island, Guangzhou 510005, China
| | - Meilin Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 511400, China
- Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou International Bio-Island, Guangzhou 510005, China
| | - Xiancai Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 511400, China
- Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou International Bio-Island, Guangzhou 510005, China
- Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
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Zhao S, Zheng B, Wang L, Cui W, Jiang C, Li Z, Gao W, Zhang W. Deubiquitinase ubiquitin-specific protease 3 (USP3) inhibits HIV-1 replication via promoting APOBEC3G (A3G) expression in both enzyme activity-dependent and -independent manners. Chin Med J (Engl) 2022; 135:2706-2717. [PMID: 36574218 PMCID: PMC9945250 DOI: 10.1097/cm9.0000000000002478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ubiquitination plays an essential role in many biological processes, including viral infection, and can be reversed by deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs). Although some studies discovered that DUBs inhibit or enhance viral infection by various mechanisms, there is lack of information on the role of DUBs in virus regulation, which needs to be further investigated. METHODS Immunoblotting, real-time polymerase chain reaction, in vivo / in vitro deubiquitination, protein immunoprecipitation, immunofluorescence, and co-localization biological techniques were employed to examine the effect of ubiquitin-specific protease 3 (USP3) on APOBEC3G (A3G) stability and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) replication. To analyse the relationship between USP3 and HIV disease progression, we recruited 20 HIV-infected patients to detect the levels of USP3 and A3G in peripheral blood and analysed their correlation with CD4 + T-cell counts. Correlation was estimated by Pearson correlation coefficients (for parametric data). RESULTS The results demonstrated that USP3 specifically inhibits HIV-1 replication in an A3G-dependent manner. Further investigation found that USP3 stabilized 90% to 95% of A3G expression by deubiquitinating Vif-mediated polyubiquitination and blocking its degradation in an enzyme-dependent manner. It also enhances the A3G messenger RNA (mRNA) level by binding to A3G mRNA and stabilizing it in an enzyme-independent manner. Moreover, USP3 expression was positively correlated with A3G expression ( r = 0.5110) and CD4 + T-cell counts ( r = 0.5083) in HIV-1-infected patients. CONCLUSIONS USP3 restricts HIV-1 viral infections by increasing the expression of the antiviral factor A3G. Therefore, USP3 may be an important target for drug development and serve as a novel therapeutic strategy against viral infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simin Zhao
- Center for Pathogen Biology and Infectious Diseases, Institute of Virology and AIDS Research, Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Transplantation of The Ministry of Education, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, China
- College of Life Science of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130012, China
| | - Baisong Zheng
- Center for Pathogen Biology and Infectious Diseases, Institute of Virology and AIDS Research, Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Transplantation of The Ministry of Education, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, China
| | - Liuli Wang
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130012, China
| | - Wenzhe Cui
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory on Molecular and Chemical Genetics, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130041, China
| | - Chunlai Jiang
- College of Life Science of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130012, China
| | - Zhuo Li
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, China
| | - Wenying Gao
- Center for Pathogen Biology and Infectious Diseases, Institute of Virology and AIDS Research, Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Transplantation of The Ministry of Education, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, China
| | - Wenyan Zhang
- Center for Pathogen Biology and Infectious Diseases, Institute of Virology and AIDS Research, Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Transplantation of The Ministry of Education, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, China
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Mediouni S, Lyu S, Schader SM, Valente ST. Forging a Functional Cure for HIV: Transcription Regulators and Inhibitors. Viruses 2022; 14:1980. [PMID: 36146786 PMCID: PMC9502519 DOI: 10.3390/v14091980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 08/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Current antiretroviral therapy (ART) increases the survival of HIV-infected individuals, yet it is not curative. The major barrier to finding a definitive cure for HIV is our inability to identify and eliminate long-lived cells containing the dormant provirus, termed viral reservoir. When ART is interrupted, the viral reservoir ensures heterogenous and stochastic HIV viral gene expression, which can reseed infection back to pre-ART levels. While strategies to permanently eradicate the virus have not yet provided significant success, recent work has focused on the management of this residual viral reservoir to effectively limit comorbidities associated with the ongoing viral transcription still observed during suppressive ART, as well as limit the need for daily ART. Our group has been at the forefront of exploring the viability of the block-and-lock remission approach, focused on the long-lasting epigenetic block of viral transcription such that without daily ART, there is no risk of viral rebound, transmission, or progression to AIDS. Numerous studies have reported inhibitors of both viral and host factors required for HIV transcriptional activation. Here, we highlight and review some of the latest HIV transcriptional inhibitor discoveries that may be leveraged for the clinical exploration of block-and-lock and revolutionize the way we treat HIV infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Mediouni
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, UF Scripps Biomedical Research, 130 Scripps Way, 3C1, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Shuang Lyu
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, UF Scripps Biomedical Research, 130 Scripps Way, 3C1, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Susan M. Schader
- Department of Infectious Disease Research, Drug Development Division, Southern Research, 431 Aviation Way, Frederick, MD 21701, USA
| | - Susana T. Valente
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, UF Scripps Biomedical Research, 130 Scripps Way, 3C1, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
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An T, Lu Y, Yan X, Hou J. Insights Into the Properties, Biological Functions, and Regulation of USP21. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:944089. [PMID: 35846989 PMCID: PMC9279671 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.944089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Deubiquitylating enzymes (DUBs) antagonize ubiquitination by removing ubiquitin from their substrates. The role of DUBs in controlling various physiological and pathological processes has been extensively studied, and some members of DUBs have been identified as potential therapeutic targets in diseases ranging from tumors to neurodegeneration. Ubiquitin-specific protease 21 (USP21) is a member of the ubiquitin-specific protease family, the largest subfamily of DUBs. Although USP21 was discovered late and early research progress was slow, numerous studies in the last decade have gradually revealed the importance of USP21 in a wide variety of biological processes. In particular, the pro-carcinogenic effect of USP21 has been well elucidated in the last 2 years. In the present review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the current knowledge on USP21, including its properties, biological functions, pathophysiological roles, and cellular regulation. Limited pharmacological interventions for USP21 have also been introduced, highlighting the importance of developing novel and specific inhibitors targeting USP21.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao An
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, China
| | - Yanting Lu
- College of TCM, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Xu Yan
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, China
| | - Jingjing Hou
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, School of Medicine, Institute of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- *Correspondence: Jingjing Hou,
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Abstract
Ubiquitin signaling is essential for immunity to restrict pathogen proliferation. Due to its enormous impact on human health and the global economy, intensive efforts have been invested in studying severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its interactions with hosts. However, the role of the ubiquitin network in pathogenicity has not yet been explored. Here, we found that ORF9b of SARS-CoV-2 is ubiquitinated on Lys-4 and Lys-40 by unknown E3 ubiquitin ligases and is degraded by the ubiquitin proteasomal system. Importantly, we identified USP29 as a host factor that prevents ORF9b ubiquitination and subsequent degradation. USP29 interacts with the carboxyl end of ORF9b and removes ubiquitin chains from the protein, thereby inhibiting type I interferon (IFN) induction and NF-κB activation. We also found that ORF9b stabilization by USP29 enhanced the virulence of VSV-eGFP and transcription and replication-competent SARS-CoV-2 virus-like-particles (trVLP). Moreover, we observed that the mRNA level of USP29 in SARS-CoV-2 patients was higher than that in healthy people. Our findings provide important evidence indicating that targeting USP29 may effectively combat SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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