FGDF Motif Regulation of Stress Granule Formation

RNA stress granules (SGs) represent a cell-intrinsic antiviral defense mechanism. The assembly of SGs in response to viral infection is coordinated by the cellular protein G3BP, which is targeted by many viruses to block SG formation. We recently showed that proteins containing the short linear motif Phe-Gly-Asp-Phe (FGDF), bind G3BP in a hydrophobic groove on the surface of the nuclear transport factor-2-like domain. Binding in this manner blocks the ability of G3BP to form SGs and allows efficient replication of viruses carrying this motif.