Regulation of Virus Replication by BK Polyomavirus Small T Antigen. 2023

Wei Zou, and Michael J Imperiale
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.

Polyomavirus small T antigen (tAg) plays important roles in regulating viral replication, the innate immune response, apoptosis, and transformation for SV40, Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV), murine polyomavirus (MuPyV), and JC polyomavirus (JCPyV). However, the function of BK polyomavirus (BKPyV) tAg has been much less studied. Here, we constructed mutant viruses that do not express tAg, and we showed that, in contrast with other polyomaviruses, BKPyV tAg inhibits large T antigen (TAg) gene expression and viral DNA replication. However, this occurs only in an archetype viral background. We also observed that the transduction of cells with a lentivirus-expressing BKPyV tAg kills the cells. We further discovered that BKPyV tAg interacts not only with PP2A A and C subunits, as has been demonstrated for other polyomavirus tAg proteins, but also with PP2A B''' subunit members. Knocking down either of two B''' subunits, namely STRN or STRN3, mimics the phenotype of the tAg mutant virus. However, a virus containing a point mutation in the PP2A binding domain of tAg only partially affected virus TAg expression and DNA replication. These results indicate that BKPyV tAg downregulates viral gene expression and DNA replication and that this occurs in part through interactions with PP2A. IMPORTANCE BK polyomavirus is a virus that establishes a lifelong infection of the majority of people. The infection usually does not cause any clinical symptoms, but, in transplant recipients whose immune systems have been suppressed, unchecked virus replication can cause severe disease. In this study, we show that a viral protein called small T antigen is one of the ways that the virus can persist without high levels of replication. Understanding which factors control viral replication enhances our knowledge of the virus life cycle and could lead to potential interventions for these patients.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D001739 BK Virus A species of POLYOMAVIRUS apparently infecting over 90% of children but not clearly associated with any clinical illness in childhood. The virus remains latent in the body throughout life and can be reactivated under certain circumstances. BK polyomavirus,Human Polyomavirus BK,Polyomavirus, BK,Polyomavirus hominis 1,Polyomavirus BK, Human
D004261 DNA Replication The process by which a DNA molecule is duplicated. Autonomous Replication,Replication, Autonomous,Autonomous Replications,DNA Replications,Replication, DNA,Replications, Autonomous,Replications, DNA
D004279 DNA, Viral Deoxyribonucleic acid that makes up the genetic material of viruses. Viral DNA
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D000957 Antigens, Viral, Tumor Those proteins recognized by antibodies from serum of animals bearing tumors induced by viruses; these proteins are presumably coded for by the nucleic acids of the same viruses that caused the neoplastic transformation. Antigens, Neoplasm, Viral,Neoplasm Antigens, Viral,T Antigens,Tumor Antigens, Viral,Viral Tumor Antigens,Virus Transforming Antigens,Large T Antigen,Large T-Antigen,Small T Antigen,Small T-Antigen,T Antigen,T-Antigen,Viral T Antigens,Antigen, Large T,Antigen, Small T,Antigen, T,Antigens, T,Antigens, Viral Neoplasm,Antigens, Viral T,Antigens, Viral Tumor,Antigens, Virus Transforming,T Antigen, Large,T Antigen, Small,T Antigens, Viral,T-Antigen, Large,T-Antigen, Small,Transforming Antigens, Virus,Viral Neoplasm Antigens
D014779 Virus Replication The process of intracellular viral multiplication, consisting of the synthesis of PROTEINS; NUCLEIC ACIDS; and sometimes LIPIDS, and their assembly into a new infectious particle. Viral Replication,Replication, Viral,Replication, Virus,Replications, Viral,Replications, Virus,Viral Replications,Virus Replications
D051379 Mice The common name for the genus Mus. Mice, House,Mus,Mus musculus,Mice, Laboratory,Mouse,Mouse, House,Mouse, Laboratory,Mouse, Swiss,Mus domesticus,Mus musculus domesticus,Swiss Mice,House Mice,House Mouse,Laboratory Mice,Laboratory Mouse,Mice, Swiss,Swiss Mouse,domesticus, Mus musculus
D027601 Polyomavirus Infections Infections with POLYOMAVIRUS, which are often cultured from the urine of kidney transplant patients. Excretion of BK VIRUS is associated with ureteral strictures and CYSTITIS, and that of JC VIRUS with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (LEUKOENCEPHALOPATHY, PROGRESSIVE MULTIFOCAL). Polyomavirus Infection

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