Activation of NF-κB by the Full-length Nucleocapsid Protein of the SARS Coronavirus

  1. Qing-Jiao LIAO†,
  2. Lin-Bai YE*,
  3. Khalid Amine TIMANI†,
  4. Ying-Chun ZENG,
  5. Ying-Long SHE,
  6. Li YE,
  7. Zheng-Hui WU

Article first published online: 27 SEP 2005

DOI: 10.1111/j.1745-7270.2005.00082.x

Issue

Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica

Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica

Volume 37, Issue 9, pages 607–612, September 2005

Additional Information

How to Cite

LIAO, Q.-J., YE, L.-B., TIMANI, K. A., ZENG, Y.-C., SHE, Y.-L., YE, L. and WU, Z.-H. (2005), Activation of NF-κB by the Full-length Nucleocapsid Protein of the SARS Coronavirus. Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica, 37: 607–612. doi: 10.1111/j.1745-7270.2005.00082.x

Author Information

  1. State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Life Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China

  1. †

    These authors contributed equally to this work

* *Corresponding author: Tel, 86-27-68752372; Fax, 86-27-68764763; E-mail, linbaiye@whu.edu.cn

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 27 SEP 2005
  2. Article first published online: 27 SEP 2005
  3. Received: March 8, 2005 Accepted: May 19, 2005

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Keywords:

  • severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV);
  • nucleocapsid protein;
  • NF-κB

Abstract The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) is the major causative agent for the worldwide outbreak of SARS in 2003. The mechanism by which SARS-CoV causes atypical pneumonia remains unclear. The nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) is a key transcription factor that activates numerous genes involved in cellular immune response and inflammation. Many studies have shown that NF-κB plays an important role in the pathogenesis of lung diseases. In this study, we investigated the possible regulatory interaction between the SARS-CoV nucleocapsid (N) protein and NF-κB by luciferase activity assay. Our results showed that the SARS-CoV N protein can significantly activate NF-κB only in Vero E6 cells, which are susceptible to SARS-CoV infection, but not in Vero or HeLa cells. This suggests that NF-κB activation is cell-specific. Furthermore, NF-κB activation in Vero E6 cells expressing the N protein is dose-dependent. Further experiments showed that there is more than one function domain in the N protein responsible for NF-κB activation. Our data indicated the possible role of the N protein in the pathogenesis of SARS.

Edited by Bing SUN

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