Palmitoylation of glycoproteins under low temperature enhances SVCV replication.

Low water temperatures increase palmitoylation of SVCV glycoprotein, boosting viral replication by 50% in zebrafish cells.

• Why it matters: Understanding how low temperatures enhance rhabdovirus infectivity is vital for controlling fish diseases that threaten aquaculture industries worldwide.
• What they did: Researchers used SVCV as a model and found that low temperatures raise palmitic acid levels, promoting glycoprotein palmitoylation via ZDHHC15a, which was confirmed through molecular and peptide inhibition studies.
• The result: This mechanism explains temperature-dependent infectivity in fish rhabdoviruses and suggests potential antiviral strategies targeting glycoprotein palmitoylation to mitigate outbreaks.