The bornavirus-derived human protein EBLN1 promotes efficient cell cycle transit, microtubule organisation and genome stability

Sci Rep. 2016 Oct 14:6:35548. doi: 10.1038/srep35548.

Abstract

It was recently discovered that vertebrate genomes contain multiple endogenised nucleotide sequences derived from the non-retroviral RNA bornavirus. Strikingly, some of these elements have been evolutionary maintained as open reading frames in host genomes for over 40 million years, suggesting that some endogenised bornavirus-derived elements (EBL) might encode functional proteins. EBLN1 is one such element established through endogenisation of the bornavirus N gene (BDV N). Here, we functionally characterise human EBLN1 as a novel regulator of genome stability. Cells depleted of human EBLN1 accumulate DNA damage both under non-stressed conditions and following exogenously induced DNA damage. EBLN1-depleted cells also exhibit cell cycle abnormalities and defects in microtubule organisation as well as premature centrosome splitting, which we attribute in part, to improper localisation of the nuclear envelope protein TPR. Our data therefore reveal that human EBLN1 possesses important cellular functions within human cells, and suggest that other EBLs present within vertebrate genomes may also possess important cellular functions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bornaviridae / metabolism*
  • CDC2 Protein Kinase
  • Cell Cycle / genetics*
  • Cell Line
  • Centrosome / metabolism
  • Cyclin B1 / metabolism
  • DNA Damage
  • Genomic Instability*
  • Humans
  • Microtubules / metabolism*
  • Nuclear Pore Complex Proteins / metabolism
  • Nucleoproteins / deficiency
  • Nucleoproteins / metabolism*
  • Protein Binding
  • Proteins / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Cyclin B1
  • EBLN1 protein, human
  • Nuclear Pore Complex Proteins
  • Nucleoproteins
  • Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • TPR protein, human
  • TPRN protein, human
  • CDC2 Protein Kinase
  • CDK1 protein, human