Zika virus modulates arthropod histone methylation for its survival in mosquito cells.

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a mosquito-borne human pathogen that causes mild febrile illness in adults and severe neurological complications and microcephaly in newborns. Studies have reported that ZIKV modulates methylation of human and viral RNA critical for its replication in vertebrate cells. In this s...

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Main Authors: Telvin Harrell, Swarnendu Basak, Hameeda Sultana, Girish Neelakanta
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2025-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0319290
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author Telvin Harrell
Swarnendu Basak
Hameeda Sultana
Girish Neelakanta
author_facet Telvin Harrell
Swarnendu Basak
Hameeda Sultana
Girish Neelakanta
author_sort Telvin Harrell
collection DOAJ
description Zika virus (ZIKV) is a mosquito-borne human pathogen that causes mild febrile illness in adults and severe neurological complications and microcephaly in newborns. Studies have reported that ZIKV modulates methylation of human and viral RNA critical for its replication in vertebrate cells. In this study, we show that ZIKV modulates mosquito S-adenosyl methionine (SAMe)-synthase, an enzyme involved in the production of SAMe (methyl donor), and histone methylation for its survival in mosquito cells. Reverse transcription quantitative PCR followed by immunoblotting analysis showed increased amounts of SAMe synthase at both RNA and protein levels, respectively, in C6/36 mosquito cells infected with ZIKV at day 1 post infection (p.i.). Increased levels of SAMe was noted upon ZIKV infection at day 1 p.i in mosquito cells. In addition, increased EZH2 histone methyl transferase-like gene transcripts and methylated histone (H3K27me3) levels were evident in mosquito cells upon ZIKV infection. Exogenous addition of SAMe to mosquito cells showed increased ZIKV loads and EZH2 histone methyl transferase-like gene transcript levels. Furthermore, treatment of mosquito cells with EZH2 inhibitor resulted in reduced histone methylation and ZIKV loads. Collectively, our study provides novel information in understanding the importance of SAMe and histone methylation in the survival of ZIKV in its arthropod vector.
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spelling doaj-art-99313e4edbfa4dbcacba2ab03267cbaf2025-08-20T02:56:05ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032025-01-01202e031929010.1371/journal.pone.0319290Zika virus modulates arthropod histone methylation for its survival in mosquito cells.Telvin HarrellSwarnendu BasakHameeda SultanaGirish NeelakantaZika virus (ZIKV) is a mosquito-borne human pathogen that causes mild febrile illness in adults and severe neurological complications and microcephaly in newborns. Studies have reported that ZIKV modulates methylation of human and viral RNA critical for its replication in vertebrate cells. In this study, we show that ZIKV modulates mosquito S-adenosyl methionine (SAMe)-synthase, an enzyme involved in the production of SAMe (methyl donor), and histone methylation for its survival in mosquito cells. Reverse transcription quantitative PCR followed by immunoblotting analysis showed increased amounts of SAMe synthase at both RNA and protein levels, respectively, in C6/36 mosquito cells infected with ZIKV at day 1 post infection (p.i.). Increased levels of SAMe was noted upon ZIKV infection at day 1 p.i in mosquito cells. In addition, increased EZH2 histone methyl transferase-like gene transcripts and methylated histone (H3K27me3) levels were evident in mosquito cells upon ZIKV infection. Exogenous addition of SAMe to mosquito cells showed increased ZIKV loads and EZH2 histone methyl transferase-like gene transcript levels. Furthermore, treatment of mosquito cells with EZH2 inhibitor resulted in reduced histone methylation and ZIKV loads. Collectively, our study provides novel information in understanding the importance of SAMe and histone methylation in the survival of ZIKV in its arthropod vector.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0319290
spellingShingle Telvin Harrell
Swarnendu Basak
Hameeda Sultana
Girish Neelakanta
Zika virus modulates arthropod histone methylation for its survival in mosquito cells.
PLoS ONE
title Zika virus modulates arthropod histone methylation for its survival in mosquito cells.
title_full Zika virus modulates arthropod histone methylation for its survival in mosquito cells.
title_fullStr Zika virus modulates arthropod histone methylation for its survival in mosquito cells.
title_full_unstemmed Zika virus modulates arthropod histone methylation for its survival in mosquito cells.
title_short Zika virus modulates arthropod histone methylation for its survival in mosquito cells.
title_sort zika virus modulates arthropod histone methylation for its survival in mosquito cells
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0319290
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