Premium
Role of AF6 protein in cell‐to‐cell spread of Herpes simplex virus 1
Author(s) -
Keyser Johanna,
Lorger Mihaela,
Pavlovic Jovan,
Radziwill Gerald,
Moelling Karin
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/j.febslet.2007.10.030
Subject(s) - adherens junction , cadherin , nectin , herpes simplex virus , microbiology and biotechnology , pdz domain , cell , cell adhesion , biology , virus , virology , genetics
AF6 and its rat homologue afadin are multidomain proteins localized at cell junctions and involved in intercellular adhesion. AF6 interacts via its PDZ domain with nectin‐1 at epithelial adherens junctions. Nectin‐1 serves as a mediator of cell‐to‐cell spread for Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV‐1). We analyzed the role of AF6 protein in the viral spread and nectin‐1 clustering at cell–cell contacts by knockdown of AF6 in epithelial cells. AF6 knockdown reduced efficiency of HSV‐1 spreading, however, the clustering of nectin‐1 at cell–cell contacts was not affected. Thus, AF6 protein is important for spreading of HSV‐1 in epithelial cells, independently of nectin clustering, possibly by stabilization of the E‐cadherin‐dependent cell adhesion.