Article alert: Proteomic Analysis Reveals How RNA Viruses Remodel Host Polysomes

RNA viruses commandeer the host cell’s translational machinery in order to both optimize viral protein production and subvert host RNA surveillance. In compelling work published recently in Nature by Aviner et al., the authors employed an elegant proteomics strategy combining liquid chromatography-tandem mass-spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) with functional genomics and pharmacological manipulation to profile how poliovirus (PV), Zika virus (ZIKV), and dengue virus (DENV) remodel polysomes following infection. Their findings highlight both shared and distinct mechanisms of polysome reconfiguration among RNA viruses that do not involve changes to core ribosomal composition but rather affect the virus-dependent association of hundreds of host cell factors with the translational machinery. These include viral surveillance factors, translation initiation proteins, helicases, and proteostasis components, among others. Particularly intriguing is the involvement of ER collagen prolyl hydroxylases in the cotranslational modification of nascent ZIKV and DENV polyproteins, inhibition of which led to decreased viral titers.

The powerful approach utilized by Aviner et al. affords an expansive view of host-virus interactions that define translational control exerted by RNA viruses and identifies potential targets for antiviral therapeutics development.

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Four GeneTex antibodies used in this study:

Zika virus NS3 protein antibody (GTX133309)

Zika virus NS5 protein antibody (GTX133312)

Dengue virus Envelope protein antibody (GTX127277)

Dengue virus NS3 protein antibody (GTX124252)