Cell Host & Microbe
Volume 14, Issue 1, 17 July 2013, Pages 51-62
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Article
Vaccinia Virus F11 Promotes Viral Spread by Acting as a PDZ-Containing Scaffolding Protein to Bind Myosin-9A and Inhibit RhoA Signaling

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Highlights

  • Vaccinia virus F11 protein contains a central PDZ-like domain that regulates RhoA binding

  • F11 PDZ-like domain is required to inhibit RhoA signaling and promote viral spread

  • F11 PDZ-like domain interacts with the PDZ binding motif of the RhoGAP Myosin-9A

  • Myosin-9A GAP activity downregulates RhoA to promote viral spread

Summary

The vaccinia F11 protein promotes viral spread by modulating the cortical actin cytoskeleton by inhibiting RhoA signaling via an unknown mechanism. PDZ domains are widely conserved protein interaction modules whose occurrence in viral proteins is unprecedented. We found that F11 contains a central PDZ-like domain that is required to downregulate RhoA signaling and enhance viral spread. The PDZ-like domain interacts with the PDZ binding motif of the Rho GTPase-activating protein (GAP) Myosin-9A. In the absence of Myosin-9A, RhoA signaling is not inhibited, resulting in fewer actin tails and reduced virus release concomitant with less viral spread. The loss of Myosin-9A GAP activity or its ability to bind F11 also reduces actin tail formation. Furthermore, the ability of Myosin-9A to promote viral spread depends on F11 binding RhoA. Thus, F11 acts as a functional PDZ-containing scaffolding protein to inhibit RhoA signaling by binding Myosin-9A.

Cited by (0)

2

Present address: Department of Molecular Immunology and Inflammation Research Institute, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, 1-21-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8655, Japan

3

Present address: MRC Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection, Imperial College London, Armstrong Road, London SW7 2AZ, UK

4

Present address: Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King’s College London, London SE1 1UL, UK