The DEAD-box helicase DDX3X is a critical component of the TANK-binding kinase 1-dependent innate im
June 29th, 2008 | by admin |The DEAD-box helicase DDX3X is a critical component of the TANK-binding kinase 1-dependent innate immune response.
TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1) is of central importance for the induction of type-I interferon (IFN) in response to pathogens. We identified the DEAD-box helicase DDX3X as an interaction partner of TBK1. TBK1 and DDX3X acted synergistically in their ability to stimulate the IFN promoter, whereas RNAi-mediated reduction of DDX3X expression led to an impairment of IFN production. Chromatin immunoprecipitation indicated that DDX3X is recruited to the IFN promoter upon infection with Listeria monocytogenes, suggesting a transcriptional mechanism of action. DDX3X was found to be a TBK1 substrate in vitro and in vivo. Phosphorylation-deficient mutants of DDX3X failed to synergize with TBK1 in their ability to stimulate the IFN promoter. Overall, our data imply that DDX3X is a critical effector of TBK1 that is necessary for type I IFN induction.
Soulat D, Bürckstümmer T, Westermayer S, Goncalves A, Bauch A, Stefanovic A, Hantschel O, Bennett KL, Decker T, Superti-Furga G.
Department of Infection Biology, Max F Perutz Laboratories, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.