The non-structural (NS1) protein of influenza A virus associates with p53 and inhibits p53-mediated transcriptional activity and apoptosis

NS1 protein of influenza A virus is involved in regulating the apoptosis of infected cells. We found that exogenously expressed NS1 was able to associate with the tumor suppressor p53 that plays an essential role in regulating apoptosis of influenza A virus-infected cells. Exogenous expression of NS1 resulted in inhibition of p53-mediated transcriptional activity and apoptosis. The p53 inhibitory domain of NS1 was located between amino acids 144 and 188. This domain is necessary for NS1 to inhibit p53 activity, but it requires additional region(s) to cooperatively exert this inhibitory function.