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Journal of Virology, August 2004, p. 8601-8608, Vol. 78, No. 16
0022-538X/04/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/JVI.78.16.8601-8608.2004
Copyright © 2004, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Caspases Mediate Processing of the Capsid Precursor and Cell Release of Human Astroviruses

Ernesto Méndez,* Elizabeth Salas-Ocampo, and Carlos F. Arias

Departamento de Genética del Desarrollo y Fisiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos 62210, Mexico

Received 15 January 2004/ Accepted 10 May 2004

In this work we have shown that astrovirus infection induces apoptosis of Caco-2 cells, since fragmentation of cellular DNA, cleavage of cellular proteins which are substrate of activated caspases, and a change in the mitochondrial transmembrane potential occur upon virus infection. The human astrovirus Yuc8 polyprotein capsid precursor VP90 is initially processed to yield VP70, and we have shown that this processing is trypsin independent and occurs intracellularly through four cleavages at its carboxy-terminal region. We further showed that VP90-VP70 processing is mediated by caspases, since it was blocked by the pancaspase inhibitor benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Ala-Asp fluoromethylketone (z-VAD-fmk), and it was promoted by the apoptosis inducer TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL). Although the cell-associated virus produced in the presence of these compounds was not affected, the release of infectious virus to the cell supernatant was drastically reduced in the presence of z-VAD-fmk and increased by TRAIL, indicating that VP90-VP70 cleavage is important for the virus particles to be released from the cell. This is the first report that describes the induction and utilization of caspase activity by a virus to promote processing of the capsid precursor and dissemination of the viral particles.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 510-3, Colonia Miraval, Cuernavaca, Morelos 62250, Mexico. Phone: (52) (777) 329-1612. Fax: (52) (777) 317-2388. E-mail: ernesto{at}ibt.unam.mx.

Journal of Virology, August 2004, p. 8601-8608, Vol. 78, No. 16
0022-538X/04/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/JVI.78.16.8601-8608.2004
Copyright © 2004, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



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