The TAO2 protein may play a role in flu virus replication.
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA — Scientists discovered a protein that inhibits the replication of the flu virus. A new function for a protein called TAO2 has been discovered by the UT Southwestern researchers.
The findings appear to be important in limiting the reproduction of the influenza virus, which sickens millions of people every year and kills hundreds of thousands. These findings are reported in Prociding National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
“These findings reveal a new strategy to interfere with influenza virus replication, potentially paving the way for the development of new antivirals against influenza,” said Beatriz Fontoura. PhysTuesday (21/6/2022).
He is a professor of cell biology at UT Southwestern who studies interactions between RNA viruses, such as virus influenza A with its host. The study was led by Dr Fontoura, first author and postdoctoral fellow Shengyan Gao, Ph.D., and Melanie H. Cobb, Ph.D., Professor of Pharmacology.
In order to replicate, the influenza virus takes over parts of the host cell’s nucleus known as nuclear spots, which provide a site for the virus to express its genes.
Fontoura and his colleagues, who include experts in cell biology, molecular biology, and pharmacology, discovered that TAO2 kinase, a protein that transfers phosphate groups to other proteins, plays a novel role in controlling the construction and activity of these spots.
“By lowering the level of TAO2 or its kinase activity, we were able to inhibit the virus without causing major toxic effects on the host cell,” said Dr. Fontoura.
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