AUTHOR=Li Xiangrong , Ma Ruixian , Li Qian , Li Shengjun , Zhang Haixia , Xie Jingying , Bai Jialin , Idris Adi , Feng Ruofei 

TITLE=Transmembrane Protein 39A Promotes the Replication of Encephalomyocarditis Virus via Autophagy Pathway

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=10

YEAR=2019

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2019.02680

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2019.02680

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p>Encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) causes encephalitis, myocarditis, neuropathy, reproductive disorders, and diabetes in animals. EMCV is known to induce cell autophagy; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying this remain unclear. Here, we show that the type III-transmembrane protein, transmembrane protein 39A (TMEM39A), plays a critical role in EMCV replication. We showed that EMCV GS01 strain infection upregulated TMEM39A expression. Importantly, EMCV induced autophagy in a range of host cells. The autophagy chemical inhibitor, 3-MA, inhibited EMCV replication and reduced TMEM39A expression. This is the first study demonstrating TMEM39A promoting the replication of EMCV <italic>via</italic> autophagy. Overall, we show that TMEM39A plays a positive regulatory role in EMCV proliferation and that TMEM39A expression is dependent on the autophagy pathway.</p>