Ebolavirus VP35 interacts with the cytoplasmic dynein light chain 8.

ABSTRACT

The viral protein VP35 of ebolavirus (EBOV) is implicated to have diverse roles in the viral life cycle. We employed a yeast two-hybrid screen to search for VP35 binding partners and identified the cytoplasmic dynein light chain (DLC8) as a protein that interacts with VP35. Mapping analysis unraveled a consensus motif, SQTQT, within VP35 through which VP35 binds to DLC8. The disruption of DLC8 binding does not affect the ability of VP35 to inhibit type I IFN production. Given that VP35 from various EBOV species interacts with DLC8, this interaction may have a role in regulating the EBOV life cycle.