TRIM7 ubiquitinates SARS-CoV-2 membrane protein to limit apoptosis and viral replication

Maria Gonzalez-Orozco, Hsiang-Chi Tseng, Adam Hage, Hongjie Xia, Padmanava Behera, Kazi Afreen, Yoatzin Peñaflor-Tellez, Maria I. Giraldo, Matthew Huante, Lucinda Puebla-Clark, Sarah van Tol, Abby Odle, Matthew Crown, Natalia Teruel, Thomas R. Shelite, Vineet Menachery, Mark Endsley, Janice J. Endsley, Rafael J. Najmanovich, Matthew BashtonRobin Stephens, Pei-Yong Shi, Xuping Xie, Alexander N. Freiberg, Ricardo Rajsbaum

Research output: Working paperPreprint

1 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 is a highly transmissible virus that causes COVID-19 disease. Mechanisms of viral pathogenesis include excessive inflammation and viral-induced cell death, resulting in tissue damage. We identified the host E3-ubiquitin ligase TRIM7 as an inhibitor of apoptosis and SARS-CoV-2 replication via ubiquitination of the viral membrane (M) protein. Trim7 -/- mice exhibited increased pathology and virus titers associated with epithelial apoptosis and dysregulated immune responses. Mechanistically, TRIM7 ubiquitinates M on K14, which protects cells from cell death. Longitudinal SARS-CoV-2 sequence analysis from infected patients revealed that mutations on M-K14 appeared in circulating variants during the pandemic. The relevance of these mutations was tested in a mouse model. A recombinant M-K14/K15R virus showed reduced viral replication, consistent with the role of K15 in virus assembly, and increased levels of apoptosis associated with the loss of ubiquitination on K14. TRIM7 antiviral activity requires caspase-6 inhibition, linking apoptosis with viral replication and pathology.

Original languageEnglish
Place of PublicationCold Harbor, US
PublisherCold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press
Pages1-36
Number of pages36
DOIs
Publication statusSubmitted - 17 Jun 2024

Keywords

  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Membrane protein
  • E3-Ubiquitin ligases
  • TRIM7
  • Ubiquitination
  • Apoptosis
  • Antiviral activity
  • Caspase-6

Cite this