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Herpes simplex virus type 1 R-loops are targets for APOBEC-mediated mutagenesis

Year: 2026

Type: supplementary-materials

Abstract: APOBEC3 enzymes are key effectors of antiviral immunity that introduce mutations into viral genomes. We show that viral R-loops serve as preferred substrates for APOBEC3-mediated mutagenesis during herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection. APOBEC3 enzymes are recruited to viral R-loops, generating clustered C-to-T mutations in genes critical for viral assembly. Importantly, R-loops alone are not mutagenic, and APOBEC3 enzymes do not edit HSV-1 without an R-loop; mutagenesis occurs when R-loops and APOBEC3 enzymes interact. These findings identify endogenous R-loops formed during the HSV-1 life cycle as focal vulnerabilities and highlight R-loop–APOBEC3 coupling as a mechanism for antiviral mutagenesis.

Source: Figshare

DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.c.8484401

Authors: Miskei, Márton, Varga, Dóra, Hornyák, Lilla, Sipos, Éva, Nagy, Éva, Li, Qiuzhen, Karányi, Zsolt, Szabó, Zoltán, DeWeerd, Rachel, Green, Abby M., Szüts, Dávid, Csoma, Eszter, Székvölgyi, Lóránt

Institutions: University of Debrecen, Washington University in St. Louis, HUN-REN Research Centre for Natural Sciences

Language: English

Topic: Herpesvirus Infections and Treatments

Subfield: Epidemiology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

OpenAlex ID: W7161732840

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