Title of Research Project
Major
M.S. Biology
Research Abstract
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a widespread pathogen that can be life-threatening to immune-compromised patients but rarely causes disease in healthy individuals. Previous work using the yeast two-hybrid system found that GABARAP (γ-aminobutyric-acid-receptor-associated-protein) binds to HCMV US27. US27 is similar to human chemokine receptors, but is localized intracellularly instead of on the surface. Here, we examined the US27-GABARAP interaction in human cells and identified a four amino acid motif (WXXL) that mediates GABARAP binding to US27 and its localization to endosomal compartments. Since GABARAP regulates cellular receptor trafficking, these results show that viral US27 is also controlled by a cellular protein.
Faculty Mentor/Advisor
Juliet V Spencer
Included in
Viral Receptor Trafficking Regulated by GABARAP
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a widespread pathogen that can be life-threatening to immune-compromised patients but rarely causes disease in healthy individuals. Previous work using the yeast two-hybrid system found that GABARAP (γ-aminobutyric-acid-receptor-associated-protein) binds to HCMV US27. US27 is similar to human chemokine receptors, but is localized intracellularly instead of on the surface. Here, we examined the US27-GABARAP interaction in human cells and identified a four amino acid motif (WXXL) that mediates GABARAP binding to US27 and its localization to endosomal compartments. Since GABARAP regulates cellular receptor trafficking, these results show that viral US27 is also controlled by a cellular protein.
