Insights into the Role of VPS39 and Its Interaction with CP204L and A137R in ASFV Infection

Abstract

The African swine fever virus (ASFV) is a large and complex DNA virus that causes a highly lethal disease in swine, for which no antiviral drugs or vaccines are currently available. Studying viral–host protein–protein interactions advances our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying viral replication and pathogenesis and can facilitate the discovery of antiviral therapeutics. In this study, we employed affinity tagging and purification mass spectrometry to characterize the interactome of VPS39, an important cellular factor during the early phase of ASFV replication. The interaction network of VPS39 revealed associations with mitochondrial proteins involved in membrane contact sites formation and cellular respiration. We show that the ASFV proteins CP204L and A137R target VPS39 by interacting with its clathrin heavy-chain functional domain. Furthermore, we elaborate on the potential mechanisms by which VPS39 may contribute to ASFV replication and prioritize interactions for further investigation into mitochondrial protein function in the context of ASFV infection.