Cell tradition cells expressing a kinase exercise reporter (inexperienced) after an infection with the human coronavirus HCoV-229E (crimson). Cell nuclei are stained blue. Credit score: Molekulare und medizinische Virologie
A analysis crew at Ruhr College Bochum, Germany, has recognized a beforehand unknown mobile mechanism essential to the replication of coronaviruses: c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) is activated throughout an infection with human coronavirus HCoV-229E and mediates the phosphorylation of the viral nucleocapsid (N) protein, an integral step within the virus cycle. These outcomes support in higher understanding virus-host interactions and will open new approaches to exploring antiviral methods in the long run.
The crew led by Dr. Yannick Brüggemann and Professor Eike Steinmann report their findings within the journal npj Viruses from September 18, 2025.
Virus manufacturing decreases when the kinase is blocked
Through the use of live-cell microscopy, quantitative immunofluorescence, and biochemical analyses, the researchers had been capable of reveal that JNK is particularly activated in contaminated cells. They used a kinase translocation reporter (KTR) to straight visualize the marked improve in JNK exercise roughly 16 hours after an infection. If the kinase is blocked by particular inhibitors, virus manufacturing was diminished considerably. That is the case for each HcoV-229E and SARS-CoV-2.
In cooperation with the group led by Professor Michael Kracht at College of Giessen, the crew was additionally capable of present that JNK phosphorylates particular serine residues on the N protein. These websites are conserved in numerous coronaviruses, indicating that JNK performs a joint position within the replication of assorted virus sorts.
“Our data highlight JNK as an important host factor that is directly involved in the modification of the N protein, a critical step in virus replication,” explains Brüggemann.
“The fact that inhibition of JNK hampers the replication of both HCoV-229E and SARS-CoV-2 shows the potential of this signal pathway as a future starting point for new antiviral agents,” provides Steinmann.
Extra info:
Yannick Brüggemann et al, JNK kinase regulates phosphorylation of HCoV-229E nucleocapsid protein, npj Viruses (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s44298-025-00152-7
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Ruhr College Bochum
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Coronavirus replication depends on newly recognized host enzyme, examine finds (2025, November 7)
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