{
  "abstract": "Viruses encode RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) to manipulate host processes and promote infection. However, due to limited genomic space, many viral proteins are multifunctional and may engage RNA through non-canonical domains, making their identification difficult using traditional sequence-based approaches. Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is the etiological agent of many AIDS-associated cancers. Here, leveraging an unbiased proteomic approach we identified all RBPs in KSHV-infected primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) cells, uncovering 7 previously unrecognized KSHV-encoded RBPs. Among these is viral Interferon Regulatory Factor 1 (vIRF1), which we found is both necessary and sufficient to activate oncogenic RAS/MAPK signaling through an RNA-dependent interaction with host G3BP proteins. Importantly, a KSHV vIRF1 mutant lacking the ability to bind RNA exhibits a B cell-specific replication defect, highlighting the essential role of RNA interactions in viral gene regulation and pathogenesis. These findings reveal a novel strategy by which KSHV hijacks RNA-mediated signaling to support its lifecycle.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.",
    "Vanderbilt Center for Immunobiology, Nashville, TN, USA.",
    "Vanderbilt Institute for Infection, Immunology, and Inflammation, Nashville, TN, USA.",
    "Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, TN, USA.",
    "Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.",
    "Mass Spectrometry Research Center, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.",
    "Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA. John.Karijolich@vumc.org.",
    "Vanderbilt Center for Immunobiology, Nashville, TN, USA. John.Karijolich@vumc.org.",
    "Vanderbilt Institute for Infection, Immunology, and Inflammation, Nashville, TN, USA. John.Karijolich@vumc.org.",
    "Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, TN, USA. John.Karijolich@vumc.org.",
    "Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA. John.Karijolich@vumc.org."
  ],
  "article_type": "research support, non u.s. gov't",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 6,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1,
        2,
        3
      ],
      "name": "Yang Zhao",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-5842-1260"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1,
        2,
        3
      ],
      "name": "Xiang Ye",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-8694-8710"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Madeline Yuen"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1,
        2
      ],
      "name": "Ruilin Zhang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4,
        5
      ],
      "name": "W Hayes McDonald"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        6,
        7,
        8,
        9,
        10
      ],
      "name": "John Karijolich",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-7925-1122"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/c79csmf4wavkw.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1038/s41467-026-77861-x",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13677729",
  "id": "c79csmf4wavkw",
  "issns": [
    "2041-1723"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42894007",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2730|Viral-associated cancers and disorders"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7213434401",
  "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13677729?pdf=render",
  "pmcid": "PMC13677729",
  "pmid": "42894007",
  "published": "2026-09-16",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/c79csmf4wavkw.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:19:41Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42894007",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42894007"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2730|Viral-associated cancers and disorders",
      "subfield": "oncology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "RNA binding proteome profiling reveals RNA-dependent activation of oncogenic host signaling during KSHV infection.",
  "title_text": "RNA binding proteome profiling reveals RNA-dependent activation of oncogenic host signaling during KSHV infection.",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:19:41Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/c79csmf4wavkw",
  "venue": "Nature communications",
  "versions": []
}