Host cytoskeletal vimentin serves as a structural organizer and an RNA-binding protein regulator to facilitate Zika viral replication.

ABSTRACT: Emerging microbe infections, such as Zika virus (ZIKV), pose an increasing threat to human health. Investigations on ZIKV replication have revealed the construction of replication complexes (RCs), but the role of cytoskeleton in this process is largely unknown. Here, we investigated the function of cytoskeletal intermediate filament protein vimentin in the life cycle of ZIKV infection. Using advanced imaging techniques, we uncovered that vimentin filaments undergo drastic reorganization upon viral protein synthesis to form a perinuclear cage-like structure that embraces and concentrates RCs. Genetic removal of vimentin markedly disrupted the integrity of RCs and resulted in fragmented subcellular dispersion of viral proteins. This led to reduced viral genome replication, viral protein prod

SUBMITTER: Zhang Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8872754 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature