Casein kinase 1α mediates phosphorylation of the Merkel cell polyomavirus large T antigen for β-TrCP destruction complex interaction and subsequent degradation

Bibliographic Details
Title: Casein kinase 1α mediates phosphorylation of the Merkel cell polyomavirus large T antigen for β-TrCP destruction complex interaction and subsequent degradation
Authors: Alexander M. Pham, Hyun Jin Kwun
Source: mBio, Vol 15, Iss 8 (2024)
Publisher Information: American Society for Microbiology, 2024.
Publication Year: 2024
Collection: LCC:Microbiology
Subject Terms: Casein kinase 1α, Merkel cell polyomavirus, large T, persistent infection, phosphorylation, Skp1-cullin 1-F-box complex, Microbiology, QR1-502
More Details: ABSTRACT Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) is a double-stranded tumor virus that is the main causative agent of Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). The MCPyV large T antigen (LT), an essential viral DNA replication protein, maintains viral persistence by interacting with host Skp1-Cullin 1-F-box (SCF) E3 ubiquitin ligase complexes, which subsequently induces LT’s proteasomal degradation, restricting MCPyV DNA replication. SCF E3 ubiquitin ligases require their substrates to be phosphorylated to bind them, utilizing phosphorylated serine residues as docking sites. The MCPyV LT unique region (MUR) is highly phosphorylated and plays a role in multiple host protein interactions, including SCF E3 ubiquitin ligases. Therefore, this domain highly governs LT stability. Though much work has been conducted to identify host factors that restrict MCPyV LT protein expression, the kinase(s) that cooperates with the SCF E3 ligase remains unknown. Here, we demonstrate that casein kinase 1 alpha (CK1α) negatively regulates MCPyV LT stability and LT-mediated replication by modulating interactions with the SCF β-TrCP. Specifically, we show that numerous CK1 isoforms (α, δ, ε) localize in close proximity to MCPyV LT through in situ proximity ligation assays (PLA) and CK1α overexpression mainly resulted in decreased MCPyV LT protein expression. Inhibition of CK1α using short hairpin RNA (shRNA) and treatment of a CK1α inhibitor or an mTOR inhibitor, TORKinib, resulted in decreased β-TrCP interaction with LT, increased LT expression, and enhanced MCPyV replication. The expression level of the CSNK1A1 gene transcripts is higher in MCPyV-positive MCC, suggesting a vital role of CK1α in limiting MCPyV replication required for establishing persistent infection.IMPORTANCEMerkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) large tumor antigen is a polyphosphoprotein and the phosphorylation event is required to modulate various functions of LT, including viral replication. Therefore, cellular kinase pathways are indispensable for governing MCPyV polyomavirus infection and life cycle in coordinating with the immunosuppression environment at disease onset. Understanding the regulation mechanisms of MCPyV replication by viral and cellular factors will guide proper prevention strategies with targeted inhibitors for MCPyV-associated Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) patients, who currently lack therapies.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 2150-7511
Relation: https://doaj.org/toc/2150-7511
DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01117-24
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/cd43fe96a1864cc3842abbc601f417e2
Accession Number: edsdoj.43fe96a1864cc3842abbc601f417e2
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
More Details
ISSN:21507511
DOI:10.1128/mbio.01117-24
Published in:mBio
Language:English