SREBP-dependent lipidomic reprogramming as a broad-spectrum antiviral target

Shuofeng Yuan, Hin Chu, Jasper Fuk Woo Chan, Zi Wei Ye, Lei Wen, Bingpeng Yan, Pok Man Lai, Kah Meng Tee, Jingjing Huang, Dongdong Chen, Cun Li, Xiaoyu Zhao, Dong Yang, Man Chun Chiu, Cyril Yip, Vincent Kwok Man Poon, Chris Chung Sing Chan, Kong Hung Sze, Jie Zhou, Ivy Hau Yee ChanKin Hang Kok, Kelvin Kai Wang To, Richard Yi Tsun Kao, Johnson Yiu Nam Lau, Dong Yan Jin, Stanley Perlman, Kwok Yung Yuen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

195 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Viruses are obligate intracellular microbes that exploit the host metabolic machineries to meet their biosynthetic demands, making these host pathways potential therapeutic targets. Here, by exploring a lipid library, we show that AM580, a retinoid derivative and RAR-α agonist, is highly potent in interrupting the life cycle of diverse viruses including Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus and influenza A virus. Using click chemistry, the overexpressed sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP) is shown to interact with AM580, which accounts for its broad-spectrum antiviral activity. Mechanistic studies pinpoint multiple SREBP proteolytic processes and SREBP-regulated lipid biosynthesis pathways, including the downstream viral protein palmitoylation and double-membrane vesicles formation, that are indispensable for virus replication. Collectively, our study identifies a basic lipogenic transactivation event with broad relevance to human viral infections and represents SREBP as a potential target for the development of broad-spectrum antiviral strategies.

Original languageEnglish
Article number120
JournalNature Communications
Volume10
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 1 2019
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2019, The Author(s).

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

  • General Chemistry
  • General Biochemistry,Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • General Physics and Astronomy

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