Integrative transcriptomic and proteomic study of Zika viral infection reveals potential mechanisms for oncolytic therapy in neuroblastoma

RNA-Seq data processing

RNA-Seq data files (.fastq.gz paired-end) of ZIKV-infected paediatric neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells were acquired from the European Nucleotide Archive (ENA) (accession: PRJNA630088). Our RNA-Seq processing pipeline consisted of FastQC (V0.11.9-0) (RRID:SCR_014583),^14,15 Trim Galore (V0.6.6-0) (RRID:SCR_011847), HISAT2 (V2.2.0) (RRID:SCR_015530),¹⁶ SAMTOOLS (V1.11) (RRID:SCR_002105)¹⁷ and Subread (V2.0.1) (RRID:SCR_009803).¹⁸ Reads were aligned against the Homo sapiens GRCh38 genome.

Differential gene expression and pathway analysis

Differential gene expression analysis was performed using DESeq2 (RRID:SCR_015687)¹⁹ to compare the triplicate of ZIKV-infected SH-SY5Y cells versus the triplicate of non-infected SH-SY5Y control cells. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were plotted on bar charts, volcano and scatter plots using GraphPad Prism (9.2.0) (RRID:SCR_002798). DEGs (padj < 0.05, fold change > 1.5) were submitted to Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) (DAVID 2021 (Dec. 2021)) (RRID:SCR_001881)^20,21 as official gene symbols for Gene Ontology (GO) (RRID:SCR_002811) (Biological Process Direct),^22,23 Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) (RRID:SCR_012773)^24–26 and Reactome (RRID:SCR_003485) pathway analysis. ZIKV-induced DEGs were mapped onto Pathview (RRID:SCR_002732).²⁷ ZIKV NS4B host interaction partners were also submitted to DAVID to identify the interaction between NS4B and host pathways. Significance values of DEG and pathway analysis were corrected for multiple testing using the Benjamini and Hochberg method (padj < 0.05).

Interactome and ZIKV dependency factor analysis

Overall, 130 high-confidence ZIKV NS4B interactors in SK-N-BE² paediatric neuroblastoma cells (determined by Bayesian statistical modelling) were sourced from IMEx - The International Molecular Exchange Consortium (RRID:SCR_002805) (IM-26452)²⁸ and mapped in Cytoscape (3.9.1) (RRID:SCR_003032).²⁹ The viral-host interactome was submitted to STRING (RRID:SCR_005223)³⁰ for high confidence (0.7) evidence-based physical subnetwork analysis to identify host-host interactions. The viral-host and STRING derived host-host interactions were integrated to identify the interaction of ZIKV NS4B with host protein complexes. Additional data incorporated into the Cytoscape map include known ZIKV dependency factors and the interaction of ZIKV NS2B-3 with the Mammalian Translocon. ZIKV dependency factors were sourced for paediatric SK-N-BE² neuroblastoma,³¹ glioma stem cells (GSCs),³² hiPSC-NPC,³³ HEK293FT³² and HeLa cells.³⁴

ZIKV displays strong oncolytic properties against neuroblastoma cells

ZIKV infects and significantly reduces the cell viability of a multitude of neuroblastoma cell lines from both primary tumour and metastatic sites (Table 1). ZIKV can significantly reduce neuroblastoma cell viability at multiplicity of infection (MOI) as low as 0.001.³⁵ The cell viability of 10/15 neuroblastoma cell lines is significantly reduced to below 20% following ZIKV infection and these observations are apparent despite the differences in the cell line, ZIKV strain, viral MOI and the type of assay performed (Table 1). SK-N-Be¹ and SK-N-Be² cells are from bone marrow metastasis from the same patient before and after treatment, respectively, and are both highly susceptible to ZIKV. Thus, Table 1 identifies that ZIKV can target neuroblastoma cells originating from the primary tumour, metastatic sites and metastatic sites that are resistant to standard neuroblastoma therapy. SK-N-AS, T-268 and JFEN are highly resistant (cell viability >80%) to ZIKV infection. Susceptibility is independent of patient sex, cell line origin, morphology and MYC-N status (Table 1). The non-sympathetic nervous system and non-paediatric origin of the T-268 and JFEN cells likely explain their resistance to ZIKV infection, as ZIKV has a tropism for paediatric nervous system cancer cells. The resistance of the paediatric SK-N-AS cell line is governed by CD24 expression, which regulates the basal antiviral state of these cells.^13,36 In conclusion, our analysis demonstrates that ZIKV is a strong candidate to employ against paediatric neuroblastoma as oncolytic virotherapy.

ZIKV strains possess different therapeutic potential against neuroblastoma cells

The neurotropism of the Asian lineage makes it the clear choice, over the African lineage, for developing ZIKV oncolytic virotherapy against brain tumours. However, the situation for neuroblastoma is not so apparent. Independent studies have demonstrated inherent differences in the ability of varying ZIKV strains to infect, replicate, and kill neuroblastoma cells.^37,38 Here, we assess all published data concerning ZIKV infection of neuroblastoma cells and ranked the viral strains based on their ability to infect neuroblastoma cells, produce fresh viral progeny and reduce cell viability (Table 2). We identify the PRVABC59 Asian, Uganda #976 African and MR766 African strains as the top three candidates (Table 2). Notably, the PRVABC59 Asian strain induces significantly more DEGs and splice events in SH-SY5Y cells compared to the African MR766 strain; including more immune and inflammatory response genes.³⁹ Brain metastases develop in 5–11% of patients with neuroblastoma and are correlated with poor prognosis.⁴⁰ The neurotropism of the Asian lineage may enhance the therapeutic potential of ZIKV by targeting these brain metastases. The multiple ZIKV pandemics identified that infection by an Asian strain is generally well accommodated by children, thus providing evidence for the safety of employing an Asian strain. Consequently, from those tested to date, we identify that the PRVABC59 strain demonstrates the greatest promise for development as oncolytic virotherapy against paediatric neuroblastoma.

ZIKV infection of neuroblastoma cells induces changes at the transcriptome level

Differential gene expression analysis identifies 453 and 256 significantly upregulated and downregulated genes (fold change > 1.5), respectively, in ZIKV-infected paediatric neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells (Figure 1A). GO, Reactome and KEGG pathway analysis identifies nine significantly upregulated and 12 significantly downregulated terms (Figure 1B-C). Upregulated processes include “TNF signalling pathway”, lipid metabolism (“Cholesterol biosynthesis”, “Cholesterol biosynthetic process”, “Activation of gene expression by SREBF (SREBP)”), endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress (“Response to endoplasmic reticulum stress”, “XBP1(S) activates chaperone genes”) and transcription (“BMAL1:CLOCK, NPAS2 activates circadian gene expression”, “Positive regulation of transcription from RNA polymerase II promoter”). The downregulated terms are predominantly cell cycle- and DNA replication-related processes and this downregulation is apparent when the “Cell Cycle” KEGG pathway is plotted for all DEGs (fold change > 0) (Figure 1D). A potential explanation for this observation is that ZIKV can disrupt the cell cycle by targeting the centrioles in neuroblastoma cells.⁴¹

Figure 1. Differential gene expression, GO and pathway analysis of ZIKV infection in SH-SY5Y cells.

Volcano plot of genes differentially expressed in response to ZIKV infection of SH-SY5Y cells, with the top 10 upregulated genes labelled (A). Significantly upregulated (B) and downregulated (C) GO Biological Processes, KEGG and Reactome pathways in response to ZIKV infection in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. KEGG map of the cell cycle, plotted using all DEGs (fold change > 0) (D). Significance values are corrected for multiple testing using the Benjamini and Hochberg method (padj < 0.05). GO, Gene Ontology; ZIKV, Zika virus; KEGG, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes; DEG, differentially expressed gene.

ZIKV induces TNF signalling in neuroblastoma cells

Of the top 10 upregulated DEGs in SH-SY5Y cells, four (BIRC3, TNFAIP3, ICAM1 and BCL3) are components of the TNF signalling pathway (Figure 1A). The TNF pathway is particularly noteworthy to consider for oncolytic virotherapy since it may play a role in both oncolysis (direct cell death) and the anti-tumoral immune response. Here, mapping the “TNF Signalling” KEGG pathway for ZIKV-infected SH-SY5Y cannot deduce if ZIKV may activate CASP-mediated apoptosis or CASP-independent necroptosis (Figure 2A). However, ZIKV-infected SH-SY5Y cells clearly show significant upregulation of transcription factors (AP-1, cEBPβ and CREB), leukocyte recruitment and activation (CCL2 and CSF1), intracellular signalling (BCL3, NFKBIA, TNFAIP3 and TRAF1) and cell adhesion genes (Icam1 and Vcam1) (Figure 2A). ZIKV significantly upregulates the expression of multiple Activator protein 1 (AP-1) transcription factors, including members from all four AP-1 subfamilies (ATF, JUN, FOS and MAF) in SH-SY5Y cells (Figure 2B). AP-1 can regulate the expression of a diverse set of genes in response to nutrients, cytokines, stress or pathogen infection, and is involved in innate and adaptive immunity, differentiation, proliferation, survival and apoptosis.⁴² AP-1 transcription factors can regulate the immune response of tumours, and significant AP-1 upregulation by ZIKV infection potentially identifies AP-1 as a mechanism through which ZIKV could yield an anti-tumoral immune response against neuroblastoma in vivo.⁴³

Figure 2. ZIKV infection upregulates the TNF signalling pathway in neuroblastoma cells.

KEGG Map plotted for the TNF Signalling Pathway, plotted using all DEGs (fold change > 0) (A). Expression levels of TNF Signalling Transcription Factors in SH-SY5Y cells in response to ZIKV infection (B). Expression levels of cytokine signalling in immune system genes in SH-SY5Y cells in response to ZIKV infection (C). Significance values are corrected for multiple testing using the Benjamini and Hochberg method (padj < 0.05). A threshold line of Log₂(1.5 Fold Change) has been applied for the expression values. Log₂FoldChange (LFC) ± standard error of the LFC estimate (lfcSE), n = 3. ZIKV, Zika virus; KEGG, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes; DEG, differentially expressed gene; AP-1, activator protein 1; CREB, cAMP response element-binding protein.

Here, we identify CCL2 (MCP-1) to be significantly upregulated by ZIKV infection, and two independent studies have shown CCL2 to be secreted by ZIKV-infected SH-SY5Y cells.^44,45 CCL2 is a pro-inflammatory mediator that recruits leukocytes via chemotaxis to infiltrate tissues, including the CNS, to stimulate inflammation.⁴⁶ A non-neurotoxic herpes simplex virus (HSV)-based oncolytic virotherapy, engineered to express physiologically relevant levels of CCL2 (M010), significantly reduced Neuro-2a neuroblastoma growth in the flank of immune-competent mice and recruited CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells to infiltrate the tumour.⁴⁶ Additionally, CCL2 is secreted by ZIKV-infected cultured canine glioblastoma cells when in the presence of monocytes and is detected in serum and CSF samples of canines bearing spontaneous brain tumours following ZIKV infection.¹² We propose here that CCL2 may be capable of inducing an anti-tumoral immune response against paediatric neuroblastoma during ZIKV infection. Supporting the notion of a ZIKV-induced inflammatory response, 32 genes implicated in cytokine signalling in the immune system are significantly differentially expressed in ZIKV-infected SH-SY5Y cells: 27 upregulated and five downregulated (Figure 2C).

ZIKV induces lipid metabolism in neuroblastoma cells

ZIKV infection significantly upregulates lipid metabolism-related terms in SH-SY5Y cells; specifically, “Cholesterol biosynthesis” and “Activation of gene expression by SREBF (SREBP)” (Figure 1B). Cholesterol and lipids are essential cellular components and there are complex systems that function to regulate their intracellular abundance and localisation. These systems include regulation of cholesterol biosynthesis by the sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP) pathway, intracellular cholesterol trafficking, and cholesterol efflux by the liver X receptor (LXR) pathway. Cholesterol and fatty acids are required for multiple stages of the flavivirus life cycle, including regulating viral entry, the formation of viral replication complexes in the ER membrane and viral egress.⁴⁷ ZIKV elevates lipogenesis and remodels the composition of the lipid classes in infected SK-N-SH cells.⁴⁸ Here, we identify several approaches to regulate ZIKV infection of neuroblastoma cells through modification of intracellular lipid levels (Table 3). These include supplementation with pathway regulators (PF-429242, fenofibrate, lovastatin, U18666A and LXR 623) or exogenous lipids (oleic acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and cholesterol).

The SREBP pathway is a principal regulator of fatty acid and cholesterol biosynthesis. The SREBF1 and SREBF2 transcription factors control this pathway, and although they share a small degree of redundancy, they primarily regulate the expression of fatty acid biosynthesis and cholesterol biosynthesis target genes, respectively.⁴⁹ Both SREBF2 and SREBF2-AS1 are significantly upregulated in ZIKV-infected SH-SY5Y cells (Figure 3A) and pathway analysis identifies significant upregulation of “Cholesterol biosynthesis” (Figure 1B). Three SREBP pathway inhibitors (PF-429242, fenofibrate and lovastatin) reduce the capability of ZIKV to infect SK-N-SH neuroblastoma cells (Table 3). We identify here that the SREBP pathway is essential for ZIKV infection and propose that it may upregulate cholesterol biosynthesis through the SREBF2 transcriptional pathway in neuroblastoma cells.

Figure 3. ZIKV infection upregulates lipid metabolism in neuroblastoma cells.

Expression of SREBP pathway (A) and LXR pathway (B) genes in neuroblastoma cells in response to ZIKV infection. Significance values are corrected for multiple testing using the Benjamini and Hochberg method (padj < 0.05). A threshold line of Log₂(1.5 Fold Change) has been applied for the expression values. Log₂FoldChange (LFC) ± standard error of the LFC estimate (lfcSE), n = 3. ZIKV, Zika virus; SREBP, sterol regulatory element binding protein; LXR, liver X receptor.

Both U18666A and exogenous cholesterol restricts ZIKV infection of neuroblastoma cells (Table 3). U18666A is an intracellular cholesterol transport inhibitor that causes the accumulation of cholesterol in lysosomes to hinder the endosomal-lysosomal system.⁵⁰ Exogenous cholesterol also leads to the inactivation of the late endosomal-lysosomal compartments through a build-up of cholesterol.⁵⁰ Collectively, this identifies a dependence of the ZIKV life cycle in neuroblastoma cells on intracellular cholesterol for the correct functioning of the endosomal-lysosomal system.

The LXR pathway agonist (LXR 623) promotes cholesterol efflux (Table 3). Flaviviruses require cholesterol for the restructuring of host membranes, and LXR 623 demonstrates this dependence of ZIKV in neuroblastoma by preventing ZIKV-induced vesicle production and ER expansion in SK-N-SH cells.⁵¹ The LXR pathway and expression of its downstream lipid homeostasis genes are regulated by the transcription factors LXR-α (NR1H3) and LXR-β (NR1H2). LXR-α protein is significantly increased by ZIKV infection of SK-N-SH neuroblastoma cells from 48 hr.⁵¹ Although LXR-α mRNA is only marginally upregulated in our study, two major cholesterol efflux factors that are downstream of the LXR pathway, ATP-Binding Cassette A1 and G1 (ABCA1 and ABCG1), are significantly upregulated (Figure 3B). This identifies a dependence of ZIKV on the LXR pathway and suggests that ZIKV may manipulate this pathway in neuroblastoma cells to upregulate cholesterol efflux.

We identify here that lipid abundance, localisation, trafficking and metabolism regulate ZIKV infection of neuroblastoma cells and that ZIKV likely remodels the cellular lipid composition to help produce a favourable environment for efficient replication.

ZIKV induces and is dependent on the ER stress response in neuroblastoma cells

ZIKV upregulates ER-stress-related terms in SH-SY5Y cells, principally “Response to endoplasmic reticulum stress” and “XBP1(S) activates chaperone genes” (Figure 1B). The Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) dictates the ER-stress response. The UPR is normally inactive due to the ER chaperone binding immunoglobulin protein (BIP) sequestering three ER stress sensors (IRE1, PERK and ATF6). Under stress conditions BIP releases IRE1, PERK and ATF6 to assist protein folding, allowing them to activate their respective UPR-mediated ER-stress pathways.

Activation of the IRE1-mediated UPR leads to IRE1 splicing a 26 bp region from the ubiquitously expressed XBP1 mRNA. The active transcription factor XBP1(S) then drives the expression of genes to help alleviate ER stress, primarily chaperone and ER-associated protein degradation (ERAD) genes. ZIKV infection significantly upregulates 15 genes of the IRE1-mediated “XBP1(S) activates chaperone genes” Reactome pathway in SH-SY5Y cells (Figure 4A). XBP1 is the most highly upregulated gene and others include the endoplasmic-reticulum-associated protein degradation (ERAD) gene SYVN1 and the chaperones DNAJC3 and DNAJB9 (Figure 4A). Multiple IRE1-mediated UPR genes (EDEM1, SYVN1, SSR1, SRPRB, ATP6V0D1, and EXTL3) are ZIKV dependency factors in hiPSC-NPCs (Table 4). Chemical inhibition of IRE1 by 4μ8C impairs ZIKV infection in vivo.⁵² Here, we identify that ZIKV significantly upregulates the IRE1-mediated UPR in SH-SY5Y cells and that ZIKV is dependent on this for efficient infection, likely as a means to regulate and combat viral replication-induced ER stress.

Figure 4. ZIKV infection activates the UPR in neuroblastoma cells.

Expression levels of the XBP1(S) activates chaperone genes (A) and ATF4 activates genes in response to endoplasmic reticulum stress (B) genes in neuroblastoma cells in response to ZIKV infection. Significance values are corrected for multiple testing using the Benjamini and Hochberg method (padj < 0.05). A threshold line of Log₂(1.5 Fold Change) has been applied for the expression values. Log₂FoldChange (LFC) ± standard error of the LFC estimate (lfcSE), n = 3. ZIKV, Zika virus; UPR, Unfolded Protein Response; ER, endoplasmic reticulum.

PERK-mediated UPR regulates the expression of genes involved in apoptosis, redox, amino acid transport and autophagy through eIF2 phosphorylation and the transcription factor ATF4. ZIKV infection significantly upregulates seven genes of the Reactome pathway “ATF4 activates genes in response to endoplasmic reticulum stress” (Figure 4B), including the ERAD gene HERPUD1 and the transcription factors ATF3, CEBPB and CEBPG. GADD34 (PPP1R15A), which usually dephosphorylates eIF2α in a negative feedback loop, is significantly upregulated here by ZIKV infection, and ZIKV induces eIF2 phosphorylation in SK-N-SH cells.⁵³ ZIKV likely upregulates GADD34 to combat ER stress-induced translational repression, as fresh virions require de novo protein synthesis. C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) (DDIT3) is a pro-apoptotic protein downstream of the PERK UPR pathway that others have observed to be significantly upregulated in SH-SY5Y and SK-N-SH cells in response to ZIKV infection.^39,53,54 CHOP induces apoptotic markers, including Caspase 3, leading to cell death. Notably, multiple PERK-mediated UPR genes (ATF4, EIF2AK1, EIF2AK2, EIF2AK3 and EIF2AK4) are ZIKV dependency factors in hiPSC-NPCs (Table 4).

We conclude that ZIKV specifically upregulates and is dependent on the IRE1 and PERK branches of the UPR ER stress response in SH-SY5Y cells; conclusions that are supported by others.^53,54

ZIKV is dependent on the EMC in neuroblastoma cells

To determine which host mechanisms ZIKV may be dependent on, we cross-referenced the 22 known proteins that ZIKV requires to infect neuroblastoma cells with ZIKV dependency factors from four cell lines (Figure 5A and Table 4). Between 72–94% of the dependency factors identified across the five different cell lines are cell-specific, highlighting how ZIKV utilises differing host factors across different cell types for its life cycle. The sparse overlap of ZIKV dependency factors identifies only one factor common to all five cell types. MMGT1 (EMC5) is a key component of the Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) Membrane Protein Complex (EMC). The EMC is a hetero-oligomer composed of 10 subunits, has chaperone properties by assisting multi-transmembrane protein folding, and is implicated in ER stress, flavivirus infection and lipid trafficking.⁵⁵ To assess if ZIKV is dependent on additional EMC subunits during infection, we searched for them in our ZIKV dependency factor dataset. We identify that ZIKV has a strong dependence on the EMC independent of cell type; all 10 EMC proteins are ZIKV-dependency factors in hiPSC-NPC, eight are in HeLa and three in GSC and HEK293FT cells (Figure 5B). The EMC facilitates the expression of ZIKV transmembrane proteins (NS2B, NS4A and NS4B), ZIKV NS4B interacts with EMC subunits, and disrupting the EMC impedes infection by ZIKV and other flaviviruses.^56,57 We propose that the EMC stabilises ZIKV proteins through integration into the ER membrane, thus permitting efficient infection in neuroblastoma cells. If investigated, we predict that additional EMC subunits would present as ZIKV dependency factors in neuroblastoma cells.

Figure 5. ZIKV dependency factors.

Venn diagram of known ZIKV dependency factors across NB, GSC, hiPSC-NPC (NPC), HEK293FT and HeLa cells, to identify shared and cell-specific factors and protein complexes that ZIKV is dependent on for infection (A). Diagram of the EMC (B) and V-ATPase (C), based on their crystal structures. For the subunits in B and C, colours are allocated based on the number of cell types in which they act as ZIKV dependency factors (cell types stated in the adjacent tables). ZIKV, Zika virus; NB, neuroblastoma; GSC, glioma stem cell; EMC, endoplasmic reticulum membrane protein complex.

ZIKV is dependent on the V-ATPase in neuroblastoma cells

Acidification of the endosomal-lysosomal system by the V-ATPase is a property that viruses can utilise to drive the release of their nucleocapsid into the cytosol. ATP6V0C, a central component of the V-ATPase, is a ZIKV-dependency factor in neuroblastoma, hiPSC-NPC and HEK293FT cells (Figure 5A). A total of 12 additional V-ATPase subunits are ZIKV dependency factors across GSC, hiPSC-NPC and HeLa cells (Figure 5C). These 13 genes consist of multiple subunits from the Vo proton translocation and V1 ATP hydrolytic domains, identifying a functional dependence of ZIKV on the entire V-ATPase complex. The V-ATPase inhibitor Bafilomycin A1 specifically binds ATP6V0C and through V-ATPase inhibition prevents lysosomal acidification and the autophagy-lysosome pathway.⁵⁸ Bafilomycin A1 inhibits ZIKV infection of SH-SY5Y cells, supporting our observation (Table 3). siRNA silencing of the V-ATPase significantly impairs ZIKV infection of T98G glioblastoma cells, collaborating its requirement for infection of nervous system tumour cells.⁵⁹ We propose that loss of V-ATPase function impairs ZIKV infection in SH-SY5Y cells due to a perturbed pH gradient in the endosomal system. This likely prevents fusion of the viral envelope with the endosomal membrane for release of the nucleocapsid, therefore, trapping ZIKV for degradation in the lysosome, as observed in Vero cells.⁶⁰

ZIKV NS4B possesses oncolytic capability against neuroblastoma cells

ZIKV NS4B protein is principally responsible for the oncolytic effect in SH-SY5Y cells, via activating the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway.⁶¹ Determining the interactions and mechanisms underpinning this may yield opportunities to develop a paediatric neuroblastoma therapy based on ZIKV NS4B. ZIKV NS4B has 130 known host interaction partners in SK-N-BE² neuroblastoma cells.³¹ Here, we analyse this interactome and identify multiple pathways that we, and others, have implicated during ZIKV infection of neuroblastoma cells: including mitochondrial-, lipid metabolism- and ER-associated processes (Figure 6). ZIKV NS4B interacts with 10 lipid biosynthesis proteins, three (SCD, SC5D and DHCR7) of which are expressed in response to SREBP pathway activation. This identifies a direct interaction between ZIKV and host lipid metabolism and the SREBP pathway, supporting our previous observations at the transcriptome level.

Figure 6. The ZIKV NS4B interactome in neuroblastoma cells and its interaction with ZIKV dependency factors.

Nodes are grouped and labelled according to any sets of high-confidence interactions between the host proteins, and by pathways they are involved in. Cross-referencing the interactome with the ZIKV dependency factor datasets identifies the interaction of NS4B with dependency factors in neuroblastoma cells (red) and in GSC, hiPSC-NPC, HeLa and HEK293FT cells (collectively termed non-neuroblastoma cells, orange). To aid visualisation, any nodes possessing no high confidence interactions, other than their interaction with NS4B, have been grouped. All nodes within Figure 6 interact with NS4B, thus, to aid visualisation all edges between NS4B and nodes within a group have been condensed into a single edge between NS4B and the grouped set of nodes. ZIKV, Zika virus; NS4B, non-structural protein 4B; GSC, glioma stem cell.

ZIKV NS4B recruits BAX to the mitochondria, triggers its activation, and releases Cytochrome c from mitochondria to induce mitochondrial cell death in SH-SY5Y cells.⁶¹ ZIKV NS4B interacts with a multitude of mitochondrial genes (Figure 6). Including, electron transport chain proteins (TIMMDC1, MT-CO2, COX15 and OXA1L), mitochondrial translocases that import proteins into the mitochondrial matrix (TOMM22, TIMM23, TIMM50 and TIMM17B) and Solute Carrier Family 25 members for transport of solutes across the mitochondrial membrane (SLC25A1, SLC25A3, SLC25A6, SLC25A11, SLC25A12, SLC25A13 and SLC25A22). Specifically, MT-CO2, COX15 and OXA1L are conserved catalytic core, assembly and accessory subunits of the Cytochrome c oxidase complex, respectively. The Cytochrome c oxidase complex tightly couples Cytochrome c to the inner mitochondrial membrane. We propose that NS4B interacts with Cytochrome c oxidase to uncouple it from Cytochrome c, causing Cytochrome c release through the BAX pore into the cytosol to drive the mitochondrial cell death pathway in neuroblastoma cells.

ZIKV NS4B interacts with the Mammalian Translocon in neuroblastoma cells

ZIKV NS4B interacts with and is dependent on multiple proteins of the Mammalian Translocon (Figures 5A and 6). The mammalian translocon is primarily composed of the Oligosaccharyl Transferase (OST) complex, the Sec61 complex and the translocon-associated protein (TRAP) complex.⁶² The multimeric OST complex co-translationally N-glycosylates proteins within the ER to assist protein folding, stability and trafficking. The Sec61 complex, a heterotrimer of Sec61α, Sec61β and Sec61γ, co-translationally translocates newly synthesised proteins across the ER and during ER stress can regulate IRE1α activity. TRAP is a heterotetramer of SSR1, SSR2, SSR3 and SSR4 that assists co-translational translocation of proteins into the ER and can prevent aberrant N-linked glycosylation during ER stress.

STT3A, a principal component of the OST complex, interacts with ZIKV NS4B and is a ZIKV dependency factor in neuroblastoma, GSC, hiPSC-NPC and HeLa cells (Figures 5A and 6). Regarding the additional OST subunits, ZIKV NS4B interacts with DDOST, RPN1, RPN2 and KRTCAP2, and OSTC and OST4 are ZIKV dependency factors in HeLa cells and GSCs, respectively (Figures 5A and 6). Two forms of the OST complex exist, the STT3A and STT3B OST paralogs. KRTCAP2 and OSTC are STT3A-specific OST factors, which permit interaction of STT3A with the translocon, whilst TUSC3 and MAGT1 are STT3B-specific OST factors.⁶² STT3A and both STT3A-specific OST factors are ZIKV interaction partners and/or dependency factors, but neither STT3B nor the STT3B-specific OST factors are. In addition to the OST factors, multiple N-linked glycosylation-related proteins (DPM1, DERL3, SYVN1, UBE2G2 and UBE2J1) are also ZIKV dependency factors in non-neuroblastoma cells (Table 4). The OST complex inhibitor NGI-1 blocks ZIKV infection of Huh7 cells, and disrupting ZIKV prM and E protein N-glycosylation impairs the release of infectious ZIKV particles from Vero cells.^63,64 Here, we identify that STT3A functions as a bonafide ZIKV dependency factor in multiple cell types, and conclude that efficient infection of neuroblastoma cells by ZIKV is likely dependent on the STT3A OST paralog for N-glycosylation of its viral proteins.

ZIKV NS4B interacts with SEC61A1 and SEC61B of the Sec61 complex in neuroblastoma cells and the Sec61α inhibitor Mycolactone impedes ZIKV infection of HeLa cells.⁶⁵ ZIKV NS4B interacts with SSR3 of the TRAP complex in neuroblastoma cells and ZIKV is dependent on at least two of the four TRAP complex subunits for infection of GSC, hiPSC-NPC and HeLa cells (Figure 5A). Further supporting our observation of ZIKV interacting and being dependent on the mammalian translocon is its dependence on SRPRB, SPCS3 and TRAM1; subunits of the Signal Recognition Particle (SRP), the Signal Peptidase Complex (SPCS) and the Translocating chain-associated membrane protein (TRAM), respectively. Notably, the viral protease NS2B-3 also interacts with subunits of the OST complex (STT3A, RPN1), Sec61 complex (SEC61B) and TRAP complex (SSR3) (Figure 6). These interactions likely facilitate the co-translational cleavage of the viral polypeptide by NS2B-3 into its individual viral proteins.

Here, we identify that ZIKV NS4B and NS2B-3 directly interact with the core complexes of the mammalian translocon and propose that these interactions are essential for the ZIKV life cycle in neuroblastoma cells. The dependency of ZIKV likely stems from the mammalian translocon facilitating viral polyprotein co-translational translocation, viral polyprotein cleavage, viral membrane protein insertion and/or viral protein N-glycosylation. Additionally, ZIKV may utilise its protein interactions with the Sec61 complex, TMEM33 and VAPB, to regulate the IRE1- and PERK-mediated UPR ER stress responses, that we identify to be significantly upregulated at the transcriptome level in ZIKV infected-neuroblastoma cells.