Adaptive duplication and genetic diversification of protein kinase R contribute to the specificity of bat-virus interactions

Stéphanie Jacquet, Michelle Culbertson, Chi Zhang, Adil El Filali, Clément De La Myre Mory, Jean Baptiste Pons, Ondine Filippi-Codaccioni, M. Elise Lauterbur, Barthélémy Ngoubangoye, Jeanne Duhayer, Clément Verez, Chorong Park, Clara Dahoui, Clayton M. Carey, Greg Brennan, David Enard, Andrea Cimarelli, Stefan Rothenburg, Nels C. Elde, Dominique PontierLucie Etienne

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Several bat species act as asymptomatic reservoirs for many viruses that are highly pathogenic in other mammals. Here, we have characterized the functional diversification of the protein kinase R (PKR), a major antiviral innate defense system. Our data indicate that PKR has evolved under positive selection and has undergone repeated genomic duplications in bats in contrast to all studied mammals that have a single copy of the gene. Functional testing of the relationship between PKR and poxvirus antagonists revealed how an evolutionary conflict with ancient pathogenic poxviruses has shaped a specific bat host-virus interface. We determined that duplicated PKRs of the Myotis species have undergone genetic diversification, allowing them to collectively escape from and enhance the control of DNA and RNA viruses. These findings suggest that viral-driven adaptations in PKR contribute to modern virus-bat interactions and may account for bat-specific immunity.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbereadd7540
JournalScience Advances
Volume8
Issue number47
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 25 2022

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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