Rodrigues, LéniaPopov, NikitaKaye, KennethSimas, J. Pedro2014-03-012013Rodrigues, Lénia, Nikita Popov, Kenneth M. Kaye, and J. Pedro Simas. 2013. “Stabilization of Myc through Heterotypic Poly-Ubiquitination by mLANA Is Critical for γ-Herpesvirus Lymphoproliferation.” PLoS Pathogens 9 (8): e1003554. doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.1003554. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1003554.1553-7366http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:11855819Host colonization by lymphotropic γ-herpesviruses depends critically on expansion of viral genomes in germinal center (GC) B-cells. Myc is essential for the formation and maintenance of GCs. Yet, the role of Myc in the pathogenesis of γ-herpesviruses is still largely unknown. In this study, Myc was shown to be essential for the lymphotropic γ-herpesvirus MuHV-4 biology as infected cells exhibited increased expression of Myc signature genes and the virus was unable to expand in Myc defficient GC B-cells. We describe a novel strategy of a viral protein activating Myc through increased protein stability resulting in increased progression through the cell cycle. This is acomplished by modulating a physiological post-translational regulatory pathway of Myc. The molecular mechanism involves Myc heterotypic poly-ubiquitination mediated via the viral E3 ubiquitin-ligase mLANA protein. EC5SmLANA modulates cellular control of Myc turnover by antagonizing SCFFbw7 mediated proteasomal degradation of Myc, mimicking SCFβ-TrCP. The findings here reported reveal that modulation of Myc is essential for γ-herpesvirus persistent infection, establishing a link between virus induced lymphoproliferation and disease.en-USBiologyBiochemistryProteinsImmune System ProteinsProtein InteractionsMicrobiologyImmunityHumoral ImmunityImmunoregulationVirologyViral ReplicationViral LatencyAnimal Models of InfectionViral EnzymesViral Persistence and LatencyVirulence Factors and MechanismsViruses and CancerHost-Pathogen InteractionPathogenesisMolecular Cell BiologyCell DivisionCyclinsSignal TransductionSignaling in Selected DisciplinesOncogenic SignalingJournal Article2014-03-0110.1371/journal.ppat.1003554