Interaction of dengue NS3 with human RNA silencing machinery through HSPA1A

Viruses encode multiple proteins that interact with different host factors to aid in their establishment inside the host. Viral Suppressor of RNA silencing (VSR) are one such class of proteins that have been shown to interact with components of host machinery involved in post transcriptional gene silencing, a known antiviral defence mechanism. In the present study, we showed that dengue NS3, a known VSR not only interacts with HSPA1A, a cellular chaperone, but also modulates its expression levels. Further, we revealed HSPA1A associated with host RNA silencing machinery through its interaction with Argonaute proteins; Ago1, Ago2 and co-localizes with them in the cytoplasm of the cell. Together, these results provide evidence for involvement of other host partners in mediating VSR function of dengue NS3 and aid in deeper understanding of mechanisms underlying viral suppression of RNA silencing.