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Sugiokto FG, Saiada F, Zhang K, Li R. SUMOylation of the m6A reader YTHDF2 by PIAS1 promotes viral RNA decay to restrict EBV replication. mBio 2024; 15:e0316823. [PMID: 38236021 PMCID: PMC10865817 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03168-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
YTH N6-methyladenosine RNA-binding protein F2 (YTHDF2) is a member of the YTH protein family that binds to N6-methyladenosine (m6A)-modified RNA, regulating RNA stability and restricting viral replication, including Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). PIAS1 is an E3 small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) ligase known as an EBV restriction factor, but its role in YTHDF2 SUMOylation remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the functional regulation of YTHDF2 by PIAS1. We found that PIAS1 promotes the SUMOylation of YTHDF2 at three specific lysine residues (K281, K571, and K572). Importantly, PIAS1 synergizes with wild-type YTHDF2, but not a SUMOylation-deficient mutant, to limit EBV lytic replication. Mechanistically, YTHDF2 lacking SUMOylation exhibits reduced binding to EBV transcripts, leading to increased viral mRNA stability. Furthermore, PIAS1 mediates SUMOylation of YTHDF2's paralogs, YTHDF1 and YTHDF3, to restrict EBV replication. These results collectively uncover a unique mechanism whereby YTHDF family proteins control EBV replication through PIAS1-mediated SUMOylation, highlighting the significance of SUMOylation in regulating viral mRNA stability and EBV replication.IMPORTANCEm6A RNA modification pathway plays important roles in diverse cellular processes and viral life cycle. Here, we investigated the relationship between PIAS1 and the m6A reader protein YTHDF2, which is involved in regulating RNA stability by binding to m6A-modified RNA. We found that both the N-terminal and C-terminal regions of YTHDF2 interact with PIAS1. We showed that PIAS1 promotes the SUMOylation of YTHDF2 at three specific lysine residues. We also demonstrated that PIAS1 enhances the anti-EBV activity of YTHDF2. We further revealed that PIAS1 mediates the SUMOylation of other YTHDF family members, namely, YTHDF1 and YTHDF3, to limit EBV replication. These findings together illuminate an important regulatory mechanism of YTHDF proteins in controlling viral RNA decay and EBV replication through PIAS1-mediated SUMOylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Febri Gunawan Sugiokto
- Department of Oral and Craniofacial Molecular Biology, School of Dentistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
- Program in Microbiology and Immunology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Farjana Saiada
- Department of Oral and Craniofacial Molecular Biology, School of Dentistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Kun Zhang
- Department of Oral and Craniofacial Molecular Biology, School of Dentistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Renfeng Li
- Department of Oral and Craniofacial Molecular Biology, School of Dentistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
- Program in Microbiology and Immunology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Philips Institute for Oral Health Research, School of Dentistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
- Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
- Cancer Virology Program, Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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