BST2 Suppresses LINE-1 Retrotransposition by Reducing the Promoter Activity of LINE-1 5′ UTR

Endogenous retrotransposons are considered the “molecular fossils” of ancient retroviral insertions. Several studies have indicated that host factors restrict both retroviruses and retrotransposons through different mechanisms. Type 1 long interspersed elements (LINE-1 or L1) are the only active retroelements that can replicate autonomously in the human genome. A recent study reported that LINE-1 retrotransposition is potently suppressed by BST2, a host restriction factor that prevents viral release mainly by physically tethering enveloped virions (such as HIV) to the surface of producer cells. However, no endoplasmic membrane structure has been associated with LINE-1 replication, suggesting that BST2 may utilize a distinct mechanism to suppress LINE-1. In this study, we showed that BST2 is a potent LINE-1 suppressor. Further investigations suggested that BST2 reduces the promoter activity of LINE-1 5′ untranslated region (UTR) and lowers the levels of LINE-1 RNA, proteins, and events during LINE-1 retrotransposition. Surprisingly, although BST2 apparently uses different mechanisms against HIV and LINE-1, two membrane-associated domains that are essential for BST2-mediated HIV tethering also proved important for BST2-induced inhibition of LINE-1 5′ UTR. Additionally, by suppressing LINE-1, BST2 prevented LINE-1-induced genomic DNA damage and innate immune activation. Taken together, our data uncovered the mechanism of BST2-mediated LINE-1 suppression and revealed new roles of BST2 as a promoter regulator, genome stabilizer, and innate immune suppressor. IMPORTANCE BST2 is a potent antiviral protein that suppresses the release of several enveloped viruses, mainly by tethering the envelope of newly synthesized virions and restraining them on the surface of producer cells. In mammalian cells, there are numerous DNA elements replicating through reverse transcription, among which LINE-1 is the only retroelement that can replicate autonomously. Although LINE-1 retrotransposition does not involve the participation of a membrane structure, BST2 has been reported as an efficient LINE-1 suppressor, suggesting a different mechanism for BST2-mediated LINE-1 inhibition and a new function for BST2 itself. We found that BST2 specifically represses the promoter activity of LINE-1 5′ UTR, resulting in decreased levels of LINE-1 transcription, translation, and subsequent retrotransposition. Additionally, by suppressing LINE-1 activity, BST2 maintains genome stability and regulates innate immune activation. These findings expand our understanding of BST2 and its biological significance.