Open AccessBinding of Lassa virus perturbs extracellular matrix‐induced signal transduction via dystroglycan
Author(s) -
Rojek Jillian M.,
Moraz MarieLaurence,
Pythoud Christelle,
Rothenberger Sylvia,
Van der Goot F. Gisou,
Campbell Kevin P.,
Kunz Stefan
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
cellular microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.542
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1462-5822
pISSN - 1462-5814
DOI - 10.1111/j.1462-5822.2012.01784.x
Subject(s) - integrin , biology , lassa virus , microbiology and biotechnology , signal transducing adaptor protein , signal transduction , mapk/erk pathway , grb2 , viral matrix protein , virology , receptor , virus , biochemistry
Summary The arenavirus Lassa virus (LASV) causes a severe haemorrhagic fever with high mortality in man. The cellular receptor for LASV is dystroglycan (DG). DG is a ubiquitous receptor for extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, which cooperates with β1 integrins to control cell–matrix interactions. Here, we investigated whether LASV binding to DG triggers signal transduction, mimicking the natural ligands. Engagement of DG by LASV resulted in the recruitment of the adaptor protein Grb2 and the protein kinase MEK1 by the cytoplasmic domain of DG without activating the MEK/ERK pathway, indicating assembly of an inactive signalling complex. LASV binding to cells however affected the activation of the MEK/ERK pathway via α6β1 integrins. The virus‐induced perturbation of α6β1 integrin signalling critically depended on high‐affinity LASV binding to DG and DG's cytoplasmic domain, indicating that LASV–receptor binding perturbed signalling cross‐talk between DG and β1 integrins.