Cyclin T1/CDK9 interacts with influenza A virus polymerase and facilitates its association with cellular RNA polymerase II

J Zhang, G Li, X Ye - Journal of virology, 2010 - Am Soc Microbiol
J Zhang, G Li, X Ye
Journal of virology, 2010Am Soc Microbiol
Influenza virus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase scavenges the 5′ cap from host pre-
mRNA to prime viral transcription initiation. It is also well established that viral RNA-
dependent RNA polymerase (vRNP) associates with cellular RNA polymerase II (Pol II), on
which viral replication depends. Here we report that cyclin T1/CDK9 can interact with
influenza virus polymerase and facilitate its association with cellular Pol II. The
immunodepletion of cyclin T1/CDK9 totally abolished the association of vRNP with the C …
Abstract
Influenza virus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase scavenges the 5′ cap from host pre-mRNA to prime viral transcription initiation. It is also well established that viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (vRNP) associates with cellular RNA polymerase II (Pol II), on which viral replication depends. Here we report that cyclin T1/CDK9 can interact with influenza virus polymerase and facilitate its association with cellular Pol II. The immunodepletion of cyclin T1/CDK9 totally abolished the association of vRNP with the C-terminal domain (CTD) Ser-2-phosphorylated form of RNA polymerase II. Further studies showed that overexpression of cyclin T1/CDK9 increased the transcription activity of vRNP, while knockdown of cyclin T1/CDK9 impaired viral replication. Our results suggest that cyclin T1/CDK9 serves as an adapter to mediate the interaction of vRNP and RNA Pol II and promote viral transcription.
American Society for Microbiology