Murine Cytomegalovirus m38.5 Protein Inhibits Bax-Mediated Cell Death

• DOI: 10.1128/jvi.02570-07
• Publication Date: 2008-03-06T01:46:08Z
• Authors: Igor Jurak; Uwe Schumacher; Hrvoje Simic; Sebastian Voigt; Wolfram Brune
• Keywords: MG132

ABSTRACT Many viruses encode proteins that inhibit the induction of programmed cell death at mitochondrial checkpoint. Murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) encodes m38.5 protein, which localizes to mitochondria and protects human HeLa cells fibroblasts from apoptosis triggered by proteasome inhibitors but not Fas-induced apoptosis. However, ability this protein suppress murine its role during MCMV infection have been investigated previously. Here we show is expressed early time points infection. Cells infected with MCMVs lacking showed increased sensitivity induced staurosporine, MG132, or viral itself compared wild-type MCMV. This defect was eliminated when an Bcl-X L gene inserted into genome a deletion mutant. Using deficient in proapoptotic Bcl-2 family Bak and/or Bax, further demonstrated protected Bax- Bak-mediated interacted Bax cells. These results consolidate as mitochondrion-localized inhibitor functional similarity UL37x1 product. Although homologous sequence level, conserved among rodent cytomegaloviruses. Moreover, fact MCMV-infected are both Bak- Bax-mediated suggests possesses additional, as-yet-unidentified mechanism block