Fig. 5.

Proposed roles of PSCNV ANK and its host homologs in modulation of antiviral immune response. (A) In the non-infected cells, NF-ĸB protein (SMU15016868) resides in the cytoplasm, bound by inhibitors: its own ANK domain and protein IκB (SMU15003987). (B) In response to viral infection, inhibitors are degraded, allowing the NF-κB transcription factor to enter the nucleus and modulate gene expression to promote antiviral immune response. (C) IκB-mimicking viral protein (PSCNV ANK) may retain the NF-κB transcription factor in the cytoplasm after its inhibitors were degraded, thus downregulating the immune response.