Autophagy-Associated Proteins Control Ebola Virus Internalization Into Host Cells

J Infect Dis. 2018 Nov 22;218(suppl_5):S346-S354. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiy294.

Abstract

Ebola virus (EBOV) enters host cells by macropinocytosis, a poorly understood process. Recent studies have suggested that cell factors involved in autophagy, an evolutionally conserved pathway leading to the lysosomal degradation of protein aggregates and organelles during cellular stress, also have roles in macropinocytosis. Here, we demonstrate that autophagy-associated proteins are required for trafficking of EBOV into the cell body. Depleting cells of beclin 1, autophagy-related protein 7, or microtubule-associated protein 1A/B light chain 3B (LC3B) abolished EBOV uptake, owing to a block in vesicle formation at the cell surface. Both LC3B-I and LC3B-II interacted with macropinocytic structures. Our work indicates that, although various forms of LC3B possess an inherent ability to associate with forming macropinosomes, LC3B-II is critical for internalization of macropinocytic vesicles and, therefore, EBOV from the cell surface.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Autophagy / physiology*
  • Autophagy-Related Protein 7 / metabolism
  • Beclin-1 / metabolism
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Ebolavirus / pathogenicity*
  • Endocytosis / physiology
  • Endosomes / physiology
  • HEK293 Cells
  • HeLa Cells
  • Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / metabolism*
  • Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / virology*
  • Humans
  • Lysosomes / metabolism
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / metabolism*
  • Vero Cells
  • Virus Internalization

Substances

  • Beclin-1
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins
  • Autophagy-Related Protein 7