UBL4A Augments Innate Immunity by Promoting the K63-Linked Ubiquitination of TRAF6
JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY
Authors: Peng, Shu-Jie; Yao, Ran-Ran; Yu, Shuang-Shuang; Chen, Hong-Yan; Pang, Xuewen; Zhang, Yu; Zhang, Jun
Abstract
Human UBL4A/GdX, encoding an ubiquitin-like protein, was shown in this study to be upregulated by viral infection and IFN stimulation. Then the functions of UBL4A in antiviral immune response were characterized. Overexpression of UBL4A promoted RNA virus-induced ISRE or IFN-beta or NF-kappa B activation, leading to enhanced type I IFN transcription and reduced virus replication. Consistently, knockdown of UBL4A resulted in reduced type I IFN transcription and enhanced virus replication. Additionally, overexpression of UBL4A promoted virus-induced phosphorylation of TBK1, IRF3, and IKK alpha/beta. Knockdown of UBL4A inhibited virus-induced phosphorylation of TBK1, IRF3, and IKK alpha/beta. Coimmunoprecipitation showed that UBL4A interacted with TRAF6, and this interaction was enhanced upon viral infection. Ubiquitination assays showed that UBL4A promoted the K63-linked ubiquitination of TRAF6. Therefore, we reveal a novel positive feedback regulation of UBL4A in innate immune response combating virus invasion by enhancing the K63-linked ubiquitination of TRAF6.
Molecular characterisation, expression and functional feature of TRAF6 in the King pigeon (Columba livia)
INNATE IMMUNITY
Authors: Guo, Yaxin; Xu, Ying; Xiong, Dan; Zhou, Yingying; Kang, Xilong; Meng, Chuang; Gu, Dan; Jiao, Xinan; Pan, Zhiming
Abstract
TNF receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) is a signal transducer, which plays a pivotal role in triggering a variety of signalling cascades. Here, we cloned and identified the TRAF6 gene from the King pigeon. The open reading frame sequence of pigeon TRAF6 (piTRAF6) is 1638 bp long and encodes a 545 aa protein, including a low-complexity domain, RING finger, Zinc finger, coiled coil domain, and meprin and TRAF homology domain. The aa sequence of piTRAF6 shared a strong identity with that of other birds. PiTRAF6 transcripts were broadly expressed in all the tested tissues; piTRAF6 levels were the highest and lowest in the heart and stomach, respectively. Overexpression of piTRAF6 activated NF-kappa B in a dose-dependent manner and induced IFN-beta expression. Upon piTRAF6 knockdown by small interfering RNAs, NF-kappa B activation was markedly inhibited in HEK293T cells. The expression of piTRAF6, as well as pro-inflammatory cytokines and antiviral molecules, were obviously increased after TLR ligand stimulation and Newcastle disease virus or Salmonella Pullorum inoculation. These results suggest that piTRAF6 may play a key immunoregulatory role in the innate immune response against viral and bacterial infections.