Human cytomegalovirus regulates host DNA repair machinery for viral genome integrity.

ABSTRACT: The DNA damage response (DDR) encompasses a multitude of interconnected pathways that serve as a cellular defense to protect genome integrity. Dysregulation or failure of these pathways results in cancers and genetic disease. DNA viruses, including the herpesvirus cytomegalovirus (CMV), activate DDR signaling during their replicative program. The mechanisms by which they commandeer these responses for replication of their genome remain unclear. Here, we define a viral protein, UL138, that modulates the activity of host DDR pathways. The loss of UL138 results in structural variants, including inversions, deletions, and duplications, with signature of homology-directed repair and other DDR pathways. The actions of UL138 are due, in part, to its modulation of pathways regulated by the cellula

SUBMITTER: Longmire P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12802892 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature