ADENOVIRUS PROTEIN E4 11K AND THE INNATE IMMUNE RIG-I PATHWAY**

Authors

Ansley Whitfield*, Georgia College & State University, Milledgeville, GA 31061Follow
Lizeth Luquin*, Georgia College & State University, Milledgeville, GA 31061Follow
Kasey A. Karen, Georgia College & State University, Milledgeville, GA 31061Follow

Abstract

Adenovirus is a double-stranded DNA virus that causes cold and flu-like symptoms. Our goal with this research is to better understand how adenovirus can evade aspects of the host’s innate immune response to establish viral infection. More specifically, we are interested in how adenovirus can manipulate RIG-I, an innate immune receptor. Upon detecting viral RNA, RIG-I triggers a signaling cascade that results in the phosphorylation of the transcription factor IRF3. Once IRF3 is phosphorylated, it will translocate to the nucleus where it will stimulate the production of type-1 interferons, such as interferon beta. Stress granules, aggregates that form when the cell is stressed and halt protein production, have been shown to enhance interferon beta production via RIG-I. The adenovirus E4 11k protein can move the cellular protein Ddx6, which has been shown to assist in RIG-I function, to aggresomes where it will be degraded. We hypothesize that the E4 11k-dependent relocalization disrupts the RIG-I pathway, inhibiting interferon production. Preliminary studies using RT-qPCR have shown spikes in interferon beta mRNA levels at late time points using virus mutants with E4 11k deleted. We have been working on observing functional interferon beta protein levels with wild type and E4 11k-deleted viruses by several methods. One method we have utilized is immunofluorescence assays to visualize the colocalization of our target proteins. So far, we have used this assay to see the movement of pIRF3 to the nucleus, and we plan to visualize G3BP1, a marker of stress granules, during an adenovirus infection. We have also used an ELISA to measure interferon beta levels at different time points throughout an infection where we used both wild-type adenovirus and mutants. We also plan to use western blots to measure our target protein levels, such as interferon beta and G3BP1, using wild-type adenovirus and mutants.

Recommended Citation

Whitfield*, Ansley; Luquin*, Lizeth; and Karen, Kasey A. (2026) "ADENOVIRUS PROTEIN E4 11K AND THE INNATE IMMUNE RIG-I PATHWAY**," Georgia Journal of Science, Vol. 84, No. 1, Article 87.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.gaacademy.org/gjs/vol84/iss1/87