MDM2 Influences ACE2 Stability and SARS-CoV-2 Uptake

Quirin Emslander, Karsten Krey, Sabri Hamad, Susanne Maidl, Lila Oubraham, Joshua Hesse, Alexander Henrici, Katharina Austen, Julia Mergner, Vincent Grass, Andreas Pichlmair

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is the central entry receptor for SARS-CoV-2. However, surprisingly little is known about the effects of host regulators on ACE2 localization, expression, and the associated influence on SARS-CoV-2 infection. Here we identify that ACE2 expression levels are regulated by the E3 ligase MDM2 and that MDM2 levels indirectly influence infection with SARS-CoV-2. Genetic depletion of MDM2 elevated ACE2 expression levels, which strongly promoted infection with all SARS-CoV-2 isolates tested. SARS-CoV-2 spike-pseudotyped viruses and the uptake of non-replication-competent virus-like particles showed that MDM2 affects the viral uptake process. MDM2 ubiquitinates Lysine 788 of ACE2 to induce proteasomal degradation, and degradation of this residue led to higher ACE2 expression levels and superior virus particle uptake. Our study illustrates that cellular regulators of ACE2 stability, such as MDM2, play an important role in defining the infection capabilities of SARS-CoV-2.

Original languageEnglish
Article number1763
JournalViruses
Volume15
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2023
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • MDM2
  • SARS-CoV-2 uptake
  • angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2)
  • severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2)
  • ubiquitination

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