Abstract
Serine/threonine kinase receptor associated protein (STRAP) functions as a scaffold protein and involves in diverse cellular processes, yet its role in antiviral innate immunity is still elusive. Here, we found that STRAP acts as an interferon (IFN)-inducible positive regulator to facilitate type I IFN signaling during pseudorabies virus (PRV) infection. Mechanistically, STRAP interacted with TBK1 and promoted the activation of type I IFN signaling. Both the CT and WD40 7 − 6 domains contribute to STRAP’s function. Furthermore, TBK1 competed with PRV-UL50 for binding to STRAP, and STRAP impedes the degradation of TBK1 mediated by PRV-UL50, thereby augmenting the interaction between STRAP and TBK1. In general, these findings revealed a previously unrecognized role for STRAP in innate antiviral immune responses in PRV infection. STRAP could be a potential therapeutic target for viral infectious diseases.