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Cytomegalovirus sticks it to MHC

Cytomegalovirus sticks it to MHC <h2>Cytomegalovirus sticks it to MHC</h2> Viruses have numerous tricks for dodging the immune system. Stagg et al. reveal a key detail in one of these stratagems, identifying a protein that enables cytomegalovirus to shut down an antiviral defense. Cytomegalovirus, which most people contract at some point in their lives, eludes immune system surveillance by targeting the protein MHC I. When we're sick, MHC I captures bits of viral proteins and presents them to cytotoxic T cells, which respond by killing cells that harbor the virus, stanching the infection. However, two cytomegalovirus genes dupe cells into ubiquitinating MHC I and demolishing it in the proteasome, the cellular garbage disposal. To trigger MHC I ubiquitination, the genes co-opt a cellular protein called the E3 ligase. Researchers haven't been able to pin down the identity of this protein, which could be one of several hundred enzymes. Stagg et al. sifted 373 candidates by depleting them one by one with RNAi. Knocking down a ligase called TRC8 spared MHC I from destruction, the team found. Mutant versions of TRC8 that curtail ubiquitination allow MHC I to return to duty. Researchers know little about the function of the protein except that it is mutated in some rare hereditary and sporadic kidney tumors. That could mean that one of the normal targets of TRC8 helps spur cancer. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png The Journal of Cell Biology Rockefeller University Press

Cytomegalovirus sticks it to MHC

The Journal of Cell Biology , Volume 186 (5): 632 – Sep 7, 2009

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References (2)

Publisher
Rockefeller University Press
Copyright
© 2009 The Rockefeller University Press
ISSN
0021-9525
eISSN
1540-8140
DOI
10.1083/jcb.1865iti1
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

<h2>Cytomegalovirus sticks it to MHC</h2> Viruses have numerous tricks for dodging the immune system. Stagg et al. reveal a key detail in one of these stratagems, identifying a protein that enables cytomegalovirus to shut down an antiviral defense. Cytomegalovirus, which most people contract at some point in their lives, eludes immune system surveillance by targeting the protein MHC I. When we're sick, MHC I captures bits of viral proteins and presents them to cytotoxic T cells, which respond by killing cells that harbor the virus, stanching the infection. However, two cytomegalovirus genes dupe cells into ubiquitinating MHC I and demolishing it in the proteasome, the cellular garbage disposal. To trigger MHC I ubiquitination, the genes co-opt a cellular protein called the E3 ligase. Researchers haven't been able to pin down the identity of this protein, which could be one of several hundred enzymes. Stagg et al. sifted 373 candidates by depleting them one by one with RNAi. Knocking down a ligase called TRC8 spared MHC I from destruction, the team found. Mutant versions of TRC8 that curtail ubiquitination allow MHC I to return to duty. Researchers know little about the function of the protein except that it is mutated in some rare hereditary and sporadic kidney tumors. That could mean that one of the normal targets of TRC8 helps spur cancer.

Journal

The Journal of Cell BiologyRockefeller University Press

Published: Sep 7, 2009

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