Interferon-Inducible GTPase 1 Impedes the Dimerization of Rabies Virus Phosphoprotein and Restricts Viral Replication
Bin Tian, Yueming Yuan, Yu Yang, Zhaochen Luo, Baokun Sui, Ming Zhou, Zhen F. Fu, Ling Zhao
Abstract
Interferon and its downstream products, ISGs, are essential in defending against pathogen invasion. One of the ISGs, IIGP1, has been found to constrain intracellular parasite infection by disrupting their vacuole membranes. However, the role of IIGP1 in limiting viral infection is unclear. In this study, we show that infection with a typical neurotropic virus, RABV, can induce upregulation of IIGP1, which, in turn, suppresses RABV by interacting with its phosphoprotein (P protein) and thus blocking the dimerization of P protein. Our study provides the first evidence that IIGP1 functions in limiting viral infection and provides a basis for comprehensive understanding of this important ISG.