Biology subjects

Mankouri, J.

Publications and source records attributed to Mankouri, J..

7 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Host cell potassium ion channels KCNJ2 (KIR2.1), KCNJ13 (KIR7.1) and KCNMA1 (BKCa) mediate escape of Bunyamwera virus from late endosomal compartments

The Orthobunyavirus genus within the Peribunyaviridae family of enveloped arthropod-borne negative-sense RNA viruses includes species associated with serious or fatal disease in both animals and humans such as Schmallenberg, La Crosse and Oropouche viruses. Orthobunyaviruses (OBVs) are internalised into cells by endocytosis and release their genomes following fusion with late endosomal (LE) membranes, triggered by low pH of the luminal milieu. There is mounting evidence to suggest OBV endosomal escape is also influenced by potassium ions (K+), which increase in concentration as endosomes mature. Endosomal K+ flux is controlled by cellular K+ channels, and we previously showed that K+ channel blockade using broad spectrum pharmacological inhibition abrogates OBV infection, with virions trapped within the endosomes. However, the K+ channels regulating this process are unknown. Herein, to identify the K+ channels involved, we studied Bunyamwera virus (BUNV), the prototypical OBV, and screened a siRNA library targeting 342 human ion channels. We identified 19 K+ channels whose knockdown inhibited BUNV gene expression by over 50%, with at least seven channels affecting BUNV at the entry stage, suggesting they exert a combinatorial influence. Of these seven channels, we used both pharmacological inhibition and genetic channel manipulation to show that OBV escape from CD63- and Rab7-positive LEs is controlled by KCNJ2 (KIR2.1), KCNJ13 (KIR7.1) and KCNMA1 (BKCa). These studies add to the understanding of host factors influencing OBV entry, regulation of endosomal ion flux, and could aid in the design or repurposing of therapeutics for the treatment of OBV-associated disease.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2023

Cellular endosomal potassium ion flux regulates arenavirus uncoating during virus entry

Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) is a model arenavirus that causes fatalities within immunocompromised populations. To enter cells, the LCMV envelope fuses with endosomal membranes, for which two requirements are low pH and interaction between LCMV GP spike and receptor CD164. LCMV subsequently uncoats, where genome-associated NP separates from Z matrix. To further examine LCMV entry, an siRNA screen identified K+ channels as important for LCMV infection, and pharmacological inhibition confirmed K+ involvement during entry. We tracked incoming virions along their entry pathway under physiological conditions, where uncoating was signified by separation of NP and Z. In contrast, K+ channel blockade, prevented uncoating, trapping virions within Rab7 and CD164-positive endosomes, identifying K+ as a third LCMV entry requirement. K+ did not increase GP/CD164 binding, thus we suggest K+ mediates uncoating by modulating NP/Z interactions within the virion interior. These results suggest repurposing licensed K+ channel inhibitors represents a potential anti-arenaviral strategy.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2022

Exploitation of ATP-sensitive potassium ion (KATP) channels by HPV promotes cervical cancer cell proliferation by contributing to MAPK/AP-1 signalling

Persistent infection with high-risk human papillomaviruses (HPVs) is the causal factor in multiple human malignancies, including >99% of cervical cancers and a growing proportion of oropharyngeal cancers. Prolonged expression of the viral oncoproteins E6 and E7 is necessary for transformation to occur. Although some of the mechanisms by which these oncoproteins contribute to carcinogenesis are well-characterised, a comprehensive understanding of the signalling pathways manipulated by HPV is lacking. Here, we present the first evidence to our knowledge that the targeting of a host ion channel by HPV can contribute to cervical carcinogenesis. Through the use of pharmacological activators and inhibitors of ATP-sensitive potassium ion (KATP) channels, we demonstrate that these channels are active in HPV-positive cells and that this activity is required for HPV oncoprotein expression. Further, expression of SUR1, which forms the regulatory subunit of the multimeric channel complex, was found to be upregulated in both HPV+ cervical cancer cells and in samples from patients with cervical disease, in a manner dependent on the E7 oncoprotein. Importantly, knockdown of SUR1 expression or KATP channel inhibition significantly impeded cell proliferation via induction of a G1 cell cycle phase arrest. This was confirmed both in vitro and in in vivo tumourigenicity assays. Mechanistically, we propose that the pro-proliferative effect of KATP channels is mediated via the activation of a MAPK/AP-1 signalling axis. A complete characterisation of the role of KATP channels in HPV-associated cancer is now warranted in order to determine whether the licensed and clinically available inhibitors of these channels could constitute a potential novel therapy in the treatment of HPV-driven cervical cancer.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2022

Organisation of the orthobunyavirus tripodal spike and the structural changes induced by low pH and K+ during entry

Following internalisation, viruses employ the changing environment of maturing endosomes as cues to promote endosomal escape, a process mediated by viral glycoproteins. Specifically, we previously showed that both high [K+] and low pH promote entry of Bunyamwera virus (BUNV), the prototypical bunyavirus. Here, we used sub-tomogram averaging combined with AlphaFold, to generate a pseudo-atomic model of the whole glycoprotein envelope of BUNV. This allowed us to unambiguously locate the Gc fusion domain and its chaperone Gn within the floor domain of the spike. We also confirmed that low pH and high [K+] alters the viral glycoproteins, resulting in an activated intermediate state functionally-distinct from the highly ordered ground state, and we localize these changes to the floor domain. Biochemical data suggests that in this intermediate state the viral fusion loops are partially exposed and selectively interact with host cell membranes. Taken together, we reveal new mechanistic understanding of the requirements for virus entry.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2021

Chloride intracellular channel 4 (CLIC4) expression is transcriptionally regulated by crosstalk of the TGF-beta, Wnt and Hedgehog signalling pathways

Chloride intracellular channel 4 (CLIC4) is a recently discovered driver of fibroblast activation in Scleroderma (SSc) and cancer-associated fibroblasts. CLIC4 expression and activity are regulated by TGF-{beta} signalling through the SMAD3 transcription factor. In view of the aberrant activation of canonical Wnt and Hedgehog (Hh) signalling in fibrosis, we investigated their role in CLIC4 upregulation. Here, we show Wnt3a/{beta}-catenin and Smoothened/GLI signalling cooperate with SMAD3 to regulate CLIC4 expression in normal dermal fibroblasts, and that inhibition of SMAD3 expression or activity abolishes Wnt and Hh-dependent CLIC4 induction. We further show that expression of the profibrotic marker -smooth muscle actin strongly correlates with CLIC4 expression in dermal fibroblasts. Our data highlight novel mechanisms that regulate CLIC4 expression that present targetable pathways to prevent fibroblast activation in SSc and other fibrotic conditions.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2019

A requirement for Potassium and Calcium Channels during the Endosomal Trafficking of Polyomavirus Virions

Following internalisation viruses have to escape the endocytic pathway and deliver their genomes to initiate replication. Members of the Polyomaviridae transit through the endolysosomal network and through the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), from which heavily degraded capsids escape into the cytoplasm prior to nuclear entry. Acidification of endosomes and ER entry are essential in the lifecycle of polyomaviruses, however many mechanistic requirements are yet to be elucidated. Alteration of endocytic pH relies upon the activity of ion channels. Using two polyomaviruses with differing capsid architecture, namely Simian virus 40 (SV40) and Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV), we firstly describe methods to rapidly quantify infection using an IncuCyte ZOOM instrument, prior to investigating the role of K+ and Ca2+ channels during early stages of infection. Broad spectrum inhibitors identified that MCPyV, but not SV40, is sensitive to K+ channel modulation. In contrast, both viruses are restricted by the broad spectrum Ca2+ channel inhibitor verapamil, however specific targeting of transient or long lasting Ca2+ channel subfamilies had no detrimental effect. Further investigation revealed that tetrandrine blockage of two-pore channels (TPCs), the activity of which is essential for endolysosomal-ER fusion, ablates infectivity of both MCPyV and SV40 by preventing disassembly of the capsid, which is required for the exposure of minor capsid protein nuclear signals necessary for nuclear transport. This study therefore identifies a novel target to restrict the entry of polyomaviruses.\n\nIMPORTANCEPolyomaviruses establish ubiquitous, asymptomatic infection in their host. However, in the immunocompromised these viruses can cause a range of potentially fatal diseases. Through the use of SV40 and MCPyV, two polyomaviruses with different capsid organisation, we have investigated the role of ion channels during infection. Here, we show that Ca2+ channel activity is essential for both polyomaviruses and that MCPyV is also sensitive to K+ channel blockage, highlighting new mechanistic requirements of ion channels during polyomavirus infection. In particular, tetrandrine blockage of endolysosomal-ER fusion is highlighted as an essential modulator of both SV40 and MCPyV. Given that the role of ion channels in disease have been well characterised, there is a large panel of clinically available therapeutics that could be repurposed to restrict persistent polyomavirus infection and may ultimately prevent polyomavirus-associated disease.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2018

Targeting hepatitis C virus p7 channel activity reveals prospect for bimodal antiviral prophylaxis

Since the 1960s, a single class of agent has been licensed targeting virus-encoded ion channels, or \"viroporins\", contrasting the success of channel blocking drugs in other areas of medicine. Although resistance arose to these prototypic adamantane inhibitors of the influenza A virus (IAV) M2 proton channel, a growing number of clinically and economically important viruses are now recognised to encode essential viroporins providing potential targets for modern drug discovery.\n\nWe describe the first rationally designed viroporin inhibitor with a comprehensive structure-activity relationship (SAR). This step-change in understanding not only revealed a second biological function for the p7 viroporin from hepatitis C virus (HCV) during virus entry, but also enabled the synthesis of a labelled tool compound that retained biological activity. Hence, p7 inhibitors (p7i) represent a unique class of HCV antiviral targeting both the spread and establishment of infection, as well as a precedent for future viroporin-targeted drug discovery.

microbiology↗