DDX3 Regulates the Cap‐Independent Translation of the Japanese Encephalitis Virus via Its Interactions with PABP1 and the Untranslated Regions of the Viral Genome

The translation of global cellular proteins is almost completely repressed in cells with flavivirus infection, while viral translation remains efficient. The mechanisms of flaviviruses evade host translational shutoff are largely unknown. Here, it is found that Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) can adopt cap-independent (CI) translation to escape the host translational shutoff. Furthermore, the elements DB2 and sHP-SL within 3'UTR are involved in the regulation of CI translation, which is conserved in the genus Orthoflavivirus. By RNA affinity purification and mass spectrometry analysis, cellular DEAD-box protein 3 (DDX3) and poly(A)-binding protein 1 (PABP1) are identified as key factors in regulating CI translation of JEV via their interactions with DB2 and sHP-SL RNA structures. Mechanistically, it is revealed that DDX3 binds to both 5'UTR and 3'UTR of the JEV genome to establish a closed-loop architecture and recruit eIF4G/eIF4A to form the DDX3/PABP1/eIF4G/eIF4A tetrameric complex via its interaction with PABP1, thereby recruiting the ribosomal 43S preinitiation complex (PIC) to the 5'-end of the JEV genome to start translation. These findings demonstrate a noncanonical translation strategy employed by JEV and further reveal the regulatory roles of DDX3 and PABP1 in this mechanism. These results expand the knowledge of the translation initiation regulation in flaviviruses under the state of host translational shutoff, which provides a conserved antiviral target against orthoflavivirus.