The Cellular NMD Pathway Restricts Zika Virus Infection and Is Targeted by the Viral Capsid Protein

Abstract

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a significant global health threat, as infection has been linked to serious neurological complications, including microcephaly. Using a human stem cell-derived neural progenitor model system, we find that a critical cellular quality control process called the nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) pathway is disrupted during ZIKV infection. Importantly, disruption of the NMD pathway is a known cause of microcephaly and other neurological disorders. We further identify an interaction between the capsid protein of ZIKV and up-frameshift protein 1 (UPF1), the master regulator of NMD, and show that ZIKV capsid targets UPF1 for degradation. Together, these results offer a new mechanism for how ZIKV infection can cause neuropathology in the developing brain.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Dec 21, 2018
Source ID
10.1128/mbio.02126-18

Entities

People

  • David Jimenez-Morales
  • Julia A. Kaye
  • Kristoffer E Leon
  • Krystal A. Fontaine
  • Mariah Dunlap
  • Melanie Ott
  • Mir M. Khalid
  • Nevan J. Krogan
  • Priya S. Shah
  • Sakshi Tomar
  • Steve Finkbeiner

Organizations

  • Gladstone Institutes
  • James B. Pendleton Charitable Trust
  • National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
  • University of California
  • University of California, San Francisco

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Biology

Readers

  • Molecular Biology and Genetics
  • Molecular Genetics
  • Virology (or Medical Virology).

Technology Areas

  • Biotechnology