Virome-wide ubiquitin ligase discovery reveals diverse mechanisms of immune evasion

C Caleb R. Glassman (Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.) K Kheewoong Baek (Department of Cancer Biology, Dana–Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA.) G Gaopeng Hou (Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.) Q Qiru Zeng (Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.) C Christopher Nardone K Kate B. Juergens (Program in Virology, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA.) E Eric Fujimura (Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.) C Colin N. O’Leary (Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.) M Mamie Z. Li (Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.) J Joao A. Paulo E Eric S. Fischer S Siyuan Ding (Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.) J J. Wade Harper S Stephen J. Elledge

Abstract

Viruses are intracellular parasites that reprogram the host proteome to promote replication and evade immune recognition. We applied a virome-wide library of ~10,000 open reading frames to discover viral ubiquitin ligases, mapping their mechanisms of degradation and host substrates using targeted CRISPR screens and proteomics. These viral effectors could be classified as canonical ligases that mimic host E3s, hijackers that redirect host E3s, and non-canonical ligases that rewire Cullin-RING ligase machinery. These diverse strategies of virus-mediated degradation converged on immune-related substrates, including JAK1 and CUL1 β−TrCP , underscoring immune evasion as a major driver of viral ubiquitin ligase evolution. Our findings elucidate viral strategies for exploiting the ubiquitin–proteasome system with potential for therapeutic targeting.

Article Details

Journal Science
Volume / Issue Vol. 1, Issue 1
Published July 09, 2026
ISSN 0036-8075
Publisher American Association for the Advancement of Science

Journal Info

Science

American Association for the Advancement of Science

ISSN: 0036-8075 Social Sciences

Authors (14)

C

Caleb R. Glassman

Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.

K

Kheewoong Baek

Department of Cancer Biology, Dana–Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA.

G

Gaopeng Hou

Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.

Q

Qiru Zeng

Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.

C

Christopher Nardone

K

Kate B. Juergens

Program in Virology, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA.

E

Eric Fujimura

Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.

C

Colin N. O’Leary

Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.

M

Mamie Z. Li

Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.

J

Joao A. Paulo

E

Eric S. Fischer

S

Siyuan Ding

Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.

J

J. Wade Harper

S

Stephen J. Elledge