SARS-CoV-2 variant-specific differences in inhibiting the effects of the PKR-activated integrated stress response.

ABSTRACT: The integrated stress response (ISR) is a eukaryotic cell pathway that triggers translational arrest and the formation of stress granules (SGs) in response to various stress signals, including those caused by viral infections. The SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein has been shown to disrupt SGs, but SARS-CoV-2 interactions with other components of the pathway remains poorly characterized. Here, we show that SARS-CoV-2 infection triggers the ISR through activation of the eIF2α-kinase PKR while inhibiting a variety of downstream effects. In line with previous studies, SG formation was efficiently inhibited and the induced eIF2α phosphorylation only minimally contributed to the translational arrest observed in infected cells. Despite ISR activation and translational arrest, expression of the str

SUBMITTER: Christ W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10716588 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature