Phosphorylation of S‐S‐S Motif in Nuclear Export Protein (NEP) Plays a Critical Role in Viral Ribonucleoprotein (vRNP) Nuclear Export of Influenza A and B Viruses

Abstract The phosphorylation of three highly conserved serine residues S23, S24, and S25 (S‐S‐S motif) has been previously identified in NEP of influenza virus. However, it remains obscure whether and how this motif regulates the vRNPs nuclear export. Here the influenza A H5N6 viruses harboring NEP...

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Main Authors: Xiaokun Liu, Cha Yang, Xian Lin, Xiaomei Sun, Huanchun Chen, Qiang Zhang, Meilin Jin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-01-01
Series:Advanced Science
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202309477
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author Xiaokun Liu
Cha Yang
Xian Lin
Xiaomei Sun
Huanchun Chen
Qiang Zhang
Meilin Jin
author_facet Xiaokun Liu
Cha Yang
Xian Lin
Xiaomei Sun
Huanchun Chen
Qiang Zhang
Meilin Jin
author_sort Xiaokun Liu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The phosphorylation of three highly conserved serine residues S23, S24, and S25 (S‐S‐S motif) has been previously identified in NEP of influenza virus. However, it remains obscure whether and how this motif regulates the vRNPs nuclear export. Here the influenza A H5N6 viruses harboring NEP S23C, S24L, or S25L is generated, allowing to impair the phosphorylation on these sites without mutating viral NS1 protein. These mutations significantly inhibited vRNPs nuclear export are founded, decreased viral infectivity and attenuated virulence in mice. In addition, inhibition or knockout of ATM or CK2, two predicated Ser/Thr protein kinases that phosphorylate the S‐S‐S motif, impedes vRNP nuclear export and virus replication in cells and reduces the virulence in vivo. Moreover, treatment of NEP peptide mimics containing the S‐S‐S motif to competitively block NEP binding to the kinases reduces influenza virus replication in cells and mice. However, neither the inhibitors above nor the NEP peptide mimics significantly inhibit the replication of H5N6‐DDD mutant, indicating phosphorylation of S‐S‐S motif is required for the vRNP nuclear export. This studies contribute to a better understanding of the mechanism by which NEP regulates vRNP nuclear export and provides novel insights into antiviral targets against influenza A and B viruses.
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spelling doaj-art-fb0d4f4856ee482a93aca92baeef90822025-01-13T15:29:43ZengWileyAdvanced Science2198-38442025-01-01122n/an/a10.1002/advs.202309477Phosphorylation of S‐S‐S Motif in Nuclear Export Protein (NEP) Plays a Critical Role in Viral Ribonucleoprotein (vRNP) Nuclear Export of Influenza A and B VirusesXiaokun Liu0Cha Yang1Xian Lin2Xiaomei Sun3Huanchun Chen4Qiang Zhang5Meilin Jin6National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology Huazhong Agricultural University Wuhan 430070 P. R. ChinaNational Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology Huazhong Agricultural University Wuhan 430070 P. R. ChinaWuhan institute of Virology Chinese academy of Science Wuhan 430070 P. R. ChinaNational Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology Huazhong Agricultural University Wuhan 430070 P. R. ChinaNational Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology Huazhong Agricultural University Wuhan 430070 P. R. ChinaNational Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology Huazhong Agricultural University Wuhan 430070 P. R. ChinaNational Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology Huazhong Agricultural University Wuhan 430070 P. R. ChinaAbstract The phosphorylation of three highly conserved serine residues S23, S24, and S25 (S‐S‐S motif) has been previously identified in NEP of influenza virus. However, it remains obscure whether and how this motif regulates the vRNPs nuclear export. Here the influenza A H5N6 viruses harboring NEP S23C, S24L, or S25L is generated, allowing to impair the phosphorylation on these sites without mutating viral NS1 protein. These mutations significantly inhibited vRNPs nuclear export are founded, decreased viral infectivity and attenuated virulence in mice. In addition, inhibition or knockout of ATM or CK2, two predicated Ser/Thr protein kinases that phosphorylate the S‐S‐S motif, impedes vRNP nuclear export and virus replication in cells and reduces the virulence in vivo. Moreover, treatment of NEP peptide mimics containing the S‐S‐S motif to competitively block NEP binding to the kinases reduces influenza virus replication in cells and mice. However, neither the inhibitors above nor the NEP peptide mimics significantly inhibit the replication of H5N6‐DDD mutant, indicating phosphorylation of S‐S‐S motif is required for the vRNP nuclear export. This studies contribute to a better understanding of the mechanism by which NEP regulates vRNP nuclear export and provides novel insights into antiviral targets against influenza A and B viruses.https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202309477ATMCK2influenza virusNEP S‐S‐S motif phosphorylationvRNP nuclear exportvRNP nuclear export
spellingShingle Xiaokun Liu
Cha Yang
Xian Lin
Xiaomei Sun
Huanchun Chen
Qiang Zhang
Meilin Jin
Phosphorylation of S‐S‐S Motif in Nuclear Export Protein (NEP) Plays a Critical Role in Viral Ribonucleoprotein (vRNP) Nuclear Export of Influenza A and B Viruses
Advanced Science
ATM
CK2
influenza virus
NEP S‐S‐S motif phosphorylation
vRNP nuclear export
vRNP nuclear export
title Phosphorylation of S‐S‐S Motif in Nuclear Export Protein (NEP) Plays a Critical Role in Viral Ribonucleoprotein (vRNP) Nuclear Export of Influenza A and B Viruses
title_full Phosphorylation of S‐S‐S Motif in Nuclear Export Protein (NEP) Plays a Critical Role in Viral Ribonucleoprotein (vRNP) Nuclear Export of Influenza A and B Viruses
title_fullStr Phosphorylation of S‐S‐S Motif in Nuclear Export Protein (NEP) Plays a Critical Role in Viral Ribonucleoprotein (vRNP) Nuclear Export of Influenza A and B Viruses
title_full_unstemmed Phosphorylation of S‐S‐S Motif in Nuclear Export Protein (NEP) Plays a Critical Role in Viral Ribonucleoprotein (vRNP) Nuclear Export of Influenza A and B Viruses
title_short Phosphorylation of S‐S‐S Motif in Nuclear Export Protein (NEP) Plays a Critical Role in Viral Ribonucleoprotein (vRNP) Nuclear Export of Influenza A and B Viruses
title_sort phosphorylation of s s s motif in nuclear export protein nep plays a critical role in viral ribonucleoprotein vrnp nuclear export of influenza a and b viruses
topic ATM
CK2
influenza virus
NEP S‐S‐S motif phosphorylation
vRNP nuclear export
vRNP nuclear export
url https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202309477
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