Ndrg1 Facilitates Lytic Replication Of Kaposi'S Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus By Maintaining The Stability Of The Kshv Helicase

The presumed DNA helicase encoded by ORF44 of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) plays a crucial role in unwinding viral double-stranded DNA and initiating DNA replication during lytic reactivation. However, the regulatory mechanism of KSHV ORF44 has not been fully elucidated. In a previous study, we identified that N-Myc downstream regulated gene 1 (NDRG1), a host scaffold protein, facilitates viral genome replication by interacting with proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and the latent viral protein latency-associated nuclear antigen (LANA) during viral latency. In the present study, we further demonstrated that NDRG1 can interact with KSHV ORF44 during viral lytic replication. We also found that the mRNA and protein levels of NDRG1 were significantly increased by KSHV ORF50-encoded replication and transcription activator (RTA). Remarkably, knockdown of NDRG1 greatly decreased the protein level of ORF44 and impaired viral lytic replication. Interestingly, NDRG1 enhanced the stability of ORF44 and inhibited its ubiquitin-proteasome-mediated degradation by reducing the polyubiquitination of the lysine residues at positions 79 and 368 in ORF44. In summary, NDRG1 is a novel binding partner of ORF44 and facilitates viral lytic replication by maintaining the stability of ORF44. This study provides new insight into the mechanisms underlying KSHV lytic replication.Author summary During lytic replication, KSHV ORF44 unwinds viral DNA and initiates DNA replication. Here, we report that the host protein NDRG1, a novel ORF44 binding partner, is significantly upregulated during viral lytic replication and facilitates this process. Mechanistically, NDRG1 can increase the stability of ORF44, impairing the polyubiquitination of the lysine residues at positions 79 and 368 in ORF44, thus inhibiting ubiquitin-proteasome-mediated degradation of ORF44. Our study demonstrates that NDRG1 plays an important role in KSHV lytic replication and may thus constitute a promising therapeutic target for KSHV infection.