Argininosuccinate Synthase 1 (ASS1) Orchestrates Arginine Metabolism and Ornithine Production to Modulate CHIKV Infection

Abstract extracted from manuscript.
Viruses reprogram the host metabolic machinery to ensure a continuous supply of
macromolecules and energy for their own survival. Important cellular pathways are impacted
during infection, resulting in changes in key metabolic precursors that influence infection
outcomes.

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the impact of L-arginine and argininosuccinate
synthase (ASS1), an important upstream enzyme of the arginine metabolism pathway, during
chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection in the human liver-derived, Huh-7 cells. Using dose-
dependent and time-course L-arginine supplementation experiments, we demonstrated that
CHIKV exploits cellular arginine for enhanced viral replication. Loss-of-function and gain-
of-function studies of ASS1, combined with nitric oxide donor treatments, revealed that
arginine metabolism influences multiple downstream pathways, including ornithine synthesis,
proline metabolism, and nitric oxide production during CHIKV infection. We further
examined the relationship between ASS1 expression and STAT3 signaling in the context of
viral infection.

Our results demonstrate that exogenous L-arginine supplementation and ASS1
overexpression enhance CHIKV replication in Huh-7 cells. Conversely, ASS1 silencing
resulted in 95% reduction in viral titers. Mechanistically, ASS1 modulated arginase 1
activity, affecting ornithine production and downstream metabolites, while also influencing
the cellular nitroso-redox environment. Additionally, ASS1 expression affected STAT3
levels and its subcellular localization: ASS1 overexpression correlated with reduced nuclear
STAT3 accumulation and increased viral replication, whereas ASS1 depletion promoted
STAT3 nuclear translocation and restricted viral infection. These findings reveal a complex
interplay between arginine metabolism, innate immune signaling, and CHIKV replication,
identifying ASS1 as a potential regulatory node in CHIKV-host interactions.