Department of Biotechnology
inStem (Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine)

A cytoplasmic form of EHMT1N methylates viral proteins to enable inclusion body maturation and efficient viral replication.

Publication Type

Journal Article

Date of Publication

November 1, 2024

Journal

PLoS biology

Volume/Issue

22/11

ISSN

1545-7885

Protein lysine methyltransferases (PKMTs) methylate histone and non-histone proteins to regulate biological outcomes such as development and disease including viral infection. While PKMTs have been extensively studied for modulating the antiviral responses via host gene regulation, their role in methylation of proteins encoded by viruses and its impact on host-pathogen interactions remain poorly understood. In this study, we discovered distinct nucleo-cytoplasmic form of euchromatic histone methyltransferase 1 (EHMT1N/C), a PKMT, that phase separates into viral inclusion bodies (IBs) upon cytoplasmic RNA-virus infection (Sendai Virus). EHMT1N/C interacts with cytoplasmic EHMT2 and methylates SeV-Nucleoprotein upon infection. Elevated nucleoprotein methylation during infection correlated with coalescence of small IBs into large mature platforms for efficient replication. Inhibition of EHMT activity by pharmacological inhibitors or genetic depletion of EHMT1N/C reduced the size of IBs with a concomitant reduction in replication. Additionally, we also found that EHMT1 condensation is not restricted to SeV alone but was also seen upon pathogenic RNA viral infections caused by Chandipura and Dengue virus. Collectively, our work elucidates a new mechanism by which cytoplasmic EHMT1 acts as proviral host factor to regulate host-pathogen interaction.

Alternate Journal

PLoS Biol

PubMed ID

39509467

PubMed Central ID

PMC11575796

Authors

Kriti Kestur Biligiri
Nishi Raj Sharma
Abhishek Mohanty
Debi Prasad Sarkar
Praveen Kumar Vemula
Shravanti Rampalli

Keywords

Methylation
Cytoplasm
Host-Pathogen Interactions
Humans
HEK293 Cells
Virus Replication
Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase
Viral Proteins
Inclusion Bodies, Viral