Isoforms of Human MARCH1 Differ in Ability to Restrict Influenza A Viruses Due to Differences in Their N Terminal Cytoplasmic Domain

MARCH1 and MARCH8 are closely related E3 ubiquitin ligases that ubiquitinate an overlapping spectrum of host proteins and restrict replication of certain viruses. While the antiviral activity of MARCH8 has been intensively studied, less is known regarding virus inhibition by MARCH1. Isoforms 1 and 2 of MARCH1 are very similar in overall structure but show major differences in their N-terminal cytoplasmic domain (N-CT). Herein, we used a doxycycline-inducible overexpression system to demonstrate that MARCH1.1 reduces titres of influenza A virus (IAV) released from infected cells whereas MARCH1.2 does not. The deletion of the entire N-CT of MARCH1.2 restored its ability to restrict IAV infectivity and sequential deletions mapped the restoration of IAV inhibition to delete the 16 N-terminal residues within the N-CT of MARCH1.2. While only MARCH1.1 mediated anti-IAV activity, qPCR demonstrated the preferential expression of MARCH1.2 over MARCH1.1 mRNA in unstimulated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and also in monocyte-derived macrophages. Together, these studies describe the differential ability of MARCH1 isoforms to restrict IAV infectivity for the first time. Moreover, as published immunological, virological and biochemical studies examining the ability of MARCH1 to target particular ligands generally use only one of the two isoforms, these findings have broader implications for our understanding of how MARCH1 isoforms might differ in their ability to modulate particular host and/or viral proteins.

Automated summary

MARCH1 isoforms have differential abilities to restrict influenza A virus (IAV) infectivity. While MARCH1.2 lacks the ability to restrict IAV infectivity, the deletion of its N-terminal cytoplasmic domain (N-CT) restores the viral inhibition. Furthermore, MARCH1.2 is expressed at higher levels in unstimulated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and monocyte-derived macrophages.