SGK1, a Serine/Threonine Kinase, Inhibits Prototype Foamy Virus Replication
Junshi Zhang, Chunhua Han, Zhenjie Xiong, Manman Qiu, Xiaopeng Tuo, Chenchen Wang, Wentao Qiao, Juan Tan
Abstract
Foamy viruses can integrate into the host chromosome and are nonpathogenic in natural hosts or in experimentally infected animals. Therefore, foamy viruses are considered to be safe and efficient gene transfer vectors. Persistent infection of foamy viruses is partly caused by the restrictive effect of host factors on the virus. However, only a few cellular proteins are known to influence the replication of foamy viruses. In this study, we report that SGK1 inhibits the replication of prototype foamy virus by affecting the function of the transcription activator, Tas, and reducing the stability of the structural protein, Gag. These results will increase our understanding of the interaction between the virus and host factors, deepening our perception of host antiviral defenses and the function of SGK1, and could improve the gene transfer efficiency of foamy viruses.