Role of VP30 Phosphorylation in the Ebola Virus Replication Cycle

Ebola virus (EBOV) transcription is dependent on the phosphoprotein VP30, a component of the viral nucleocapsid. VP30 is phosphorylated at 2 serine residue clusters located at the N-terminal part of the protein. In this report, we have investigated the role of VP30 phosphorylation in EBOV replication using a reverse genetics approach. In effect, recombinant EBOVs with the VP30 serine clusters substituted either by nonphosphorylatable alanines or phosphorylation-mimicking aspartates were generated and characterized. We show that in comparison to the wild-type EBOV the mutated viruses possess reduced infectivity. This difference is explained by alterations in the balance between the transcription and replication processes and appear to be associated with the state of VP30 phosphorylation. Here we propose a model in which dynamic phosphorylation of VP30 is an important mechanism to regulate the EBOV replication cycle.