Microsporidian EnP1 alters host cell H2B monoubiquitination and prevents ferroptosis facilitating microsporidia survival. Guan J.Y. et al.

Microsporidia are intracellular eukaryotic pathogens that pose a substantial threat to immune compromised hosts. The way these pathogens manipulate host cells during infection remains poorly understood. Using a proximity biotinylation strategy we established that microsporidian EnP1, a previously reported spore wall protein, is a nucleus-targeted effector that modifies the host cell environment. EnP1's translocation to the host nucleus is meditated by nuclear localization signals (NLSs). In the nucleus, EnP1 interacts with host histone H2B. This interaction disrupts H2B monoubiquitination, subsequently impacting p53 expression. Crucially, this inhibition of p53 weakens its control over the downstream target gene SLC7A11, enhancing the host cell's resilience against ferroptosis during microsporidia infection. This favorable condition promotes the proliferation of microsporidia within the host cell. These findings shed light on the molecular mechanisms by which microsporidia modify their host cells to facilitate their survival.The above is the main content of this study, and all available raw data involved in the study are submitted here. Each figure has a separate folder, the PDF for WB raw data, and the Excel table for statistical bar chart raw data.