Interferon-induced cell membrane proteins, IFITM3 and tetherin, inhibit vesicular stomatitis virus infection via distinct mechanisms

J Virol. 2010 Dec;84(24):12646-57. doi: 10.1128/JVI.01328-10. Epub 2010 Oct 13.

Abstract

Tetherin and IFITM3 are recently identified interferon-induced cellular proteins that restrict infections by retroviruses and filoviruses and of influenza virus and flaviviruses, respectively. In our efforts to further explore their antiviral activities against other viruses and determine their antiviral mechanisms, we found that the two antiviral proteins potently inhibit the infection of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), a prototype member of the Rhabdoviridae family. Taking advantage of this well-studied virus infection system, we show that although both tetherin and IFITM3 are plasma membrane proteins, tetherin inhibits virion particle release from infected cells, while IFITM3 disrupts an early event after endocytosis of virion particles but before primary transcription of incoming viral genomes. Furthermore, we demonstrate that both the N-terminal 21 amino acid residues and C-terminal transmembrane region of IFITM3 are required for its antiviral activity. Collectively, our work sheds light on the mechanisms by which tetherin and IFITM3 restrict infection with rhabdoviruses and possibly other pathogenic viruses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antigens, CD / genetics
  • Antigens, CD / metabolism*
  • Blotting, Northern
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Endocytosis
  • GPI-Linked Proteins / genetics
  • GPI-Linked Proteins / metabolism
  • Genome, Viral
  • Humans
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Mutation / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Transcription, Genetic
  • Vesicular Stomatitis / genetics
  • Vesicular Stomatitis / prevention & control*
  • Vesicular Stomatitis / virology*
  • Vesicular stomatitis Indiana virus / pathogenicity*
  • Virion / physiology*
  • Virus Internalization
  • Virus Replication / physiology*

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • BST2 protein, human
  • GPI-Linked Proteins
  • IFITM3 protein, human
  • Membrane Proteins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • RNA-Binding Proteins