☆ 4.7 Editorial Material

Stress-induced condensate switch awakens sleeping viruses

CELL HOST & MICROBE (2023)

Molecular mechanisms of stress-induced reactivation in mumps virus condensates

Xiaojie Zhang et al.

Summary: Researchers have discovered that cellular stress can disrupt the equilibrium of persistent infection and induce replication of the mumps virus. They found that persistent viral replication factories are dynamic condensates and identified the viral phosphoprotein as a key driver in their assembly. Under stress, phosphorylation of the phosphoprotein at its interaction interface with the viral polymerase increases, leading to the formation of a stable replication complex. By obtaining atomic models for the authentic mumps virus nucleocapsid, the researchers elucidated a concomitant conformational change that exposes the viral genome to its replication machinery. These events represent a stress-mediated switch within viral condensates that support increased viral replication.

CELL (2023)

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Review Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Let's phase it: viruses are master architects of biomolecular condensates

Selena M. Sagan et al.

Summary: Viruses compartmentalize their replication and assembly machinery to evade detection and concentrate necessary proteins and nucleic acids. Recent evidence shows RNA and DNA viruses form replication organelles and assembly sites through phase separation. Two types of viral protein, antiterminators and nucleocapsid proteins, regulate the biogenesis of these compartments. This review focuses on how RNA viruses establish replication organelles and assembly sites through phase separation, and suggests that all viruses rely on phase separation to complete the infectious cycle.

TRENDS IN BIOCHEMICAL SCIENCES (2023)

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Article Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Why does viral RNA sometimes persist after recovery from acute infections?

Diane E. Griffin

Summary: Most RNA viruses are cleared from the host after acute infections, but viral RNA can sometimes persist after recovery, leading to various consequences. The exact reasons for this persistence and its implications are not yet fully understood.

PLOS BIOLOGY (2022)

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Article Cell Biology