Disruption of Ebola NP⁰VP35 Inclusion Body-like Structures reduce Viral Infection.

ABSTRACT: Viral inclusion bodies (IBs) are potential sites of viral replication and assembly. How viral IBs form remains poorly defined. Here we describe a combined biophysical and cellular approach to identify the components necessary for IB formation during Ebola virus (EBOV) infection. We find that the eNP⁰VP35 complex containing Ebola nucleoprotein (eNP) and viral protein 35 (eVP35), the functional equivalents of nucleoprotein (N) and phosphoprotein (P) in non-segmented negative strand viruses (NNSVs), phase separates to form inclusion bodies. Phase separation of eNP⁰VP35 is reversible and modulated by ionic strength. The multivalency of eVP35, and not eNP, is also critical for phase separation. Furthermore, overexpression of an eVP35 peptide disrupts eNP⁰VP35 complex formation, leading to reduced frequency of IB formation and limited viral infection. Together, our results show that upon EBOV infection, the eNP⁰VP35 complex forms the minimum unit to drive IB formation and viral replication.

SUBMITTER: Wu C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11312838 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature