HCMV Targets the Metabolic Stress Response through Activation of AMPK Whose Activity Is Important for Viral Replication
Figure 5
Impact of AMPK pharmaceutical inhibition on viral protein and DNA accumulation.
(A) Analysis of the impact of AMPK inhibition on viral protein accumulation. Serum-starved MRC-5 human fibroblasts were mock infected or infected with HCMV (MOI = 3). After adsorption, cells were treated with the AMPK inhibitor Compound C (CC, 5 µM) or DMSO alone (-). Cells were harvested at 6, 24, 48 and 72 h post infection and analyzed by Western blotting with antibodies specific for IE1, UL44, pp28 and tubulin. (B) Analysis of the impact of AMPK inhibition on viral DNA accumulation. Serum-starved MRC-5 cells were mock infected or infected with HCMV (MOI = 3). After adsorption, cells were treated with the AMPK-specific inhibitor Compound C (CC, 5 µM) or DMSO. Viral DNA was extracted from cells that were harvested at 24, 48, and 72 h post infection and processed for qPCR analysis of viral DNA accumulation. Values are means + SE.