ATRX restricts Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) viral DNA replication through heterochromatinization and minimizes unpackaged viral genomes.

ABSTRACT: ATRX limits the accumulation of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) Immediate Early (IE) proteins at the start of productive, lytic infections, and thus is a part of the cell-intrinsic defenses against infecting viruses. ATRX is a chromatin remodeler and a component of a histone chaperone complex. Therefore, we hypothesized ATRX would inhibit the transcription of HCMV IE genes by increasing viral genome heterochromatinization and decreasing its accessibility. To test this hypothesis, we quantitated viral transcription and genome structure in cells replete with or depleted of ATRX. We found ATRX did indeed limit viral IE transcription, increase viral genome chromatinization, and decrease viral genome accessibility. The inhibitory effects of ATRX extended to Early (E) and Late (L) viral protein acc

SUBMITTER: Walter RM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11407672 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature