Fig 2: RPA knockdown reversed the inhibitory effect of EDC4 on cisplatin-induced DNA damage. a The level of EDC4, RPA1 and RPA2 in cells with EDC4 overexpression (or RPA knockdown) analyzed by Western blot. b The cell growth of HeLa (with EDC4 overexpression with/or RPA knockdown) evaluated by colony formation assay. c The DNA damage of HeLa (with EDC4 knockdown) analyzed by ?H2AX immunofluorescent staining. **p < 0.01 vs. Vector; ##p < 0.01 vs. EDC4 + siNC

Fig 3: EDC4 knockdown of cervical cancer cells enhanced cisplatin sensitivity. a The level of EDC4 in HeLa and SiHa cells after EDC4 knockdown analyzed by RT-PCR; b The expression of EDC4 in HeLa and SiHa cells after EDC4 knockdown analyzed by Western blot. c The cell viability of EDC4 knockdown cells measured by MTT. **p < 0.01 vs. control

Fig 4: Summary of genes found in this and other studies and their potential roles in the SARS-CoV-2 life cycle. The host factors identified in CRISPR screens are presented adjacent to the putative stage of viral replication where they function. The genes are color-coded based on their identification in our and other published studies, as indicated in the legend. Candidate pan-HCoV host factors are indicated with red asterisks. The virus replicates through a series of well-defined molecular steps. 1–2 After virion binding to ACE2, SARS-CoV-2 can fuse at the plasma membrane or following endocytosis. Heparan sulfate proteoglycans enhance viral attachment to cells so host factors involved in heparan sulfate biosynthesis (B3GAT3, EXT1, EXTL3, SLC35B2) and glycosylation (A4GALT, ALG5, ALG9) may play a role in viral entry. The IFITM proteins are proposed to promote fusion at the cell surface but inhibit fusion in endosomes. Host factors involved in endocytosis (C18orf8, CCZ1, CCZ1B, CLTC, EPN1, WDR81, WDR91), vesicular transport (DNM2, PIK3C3, RAB7A, TMEM106B, SNX27, VAC14, VPS35), and amphisome maturation/lysosome fusion (ATP6VIE1, ATPCV1G1, ATP6V1A, CTSL, GDI2, TMEM41B) likely facilitate virion uncoating. 3 The positive-sense RNA genome is then translated to produce the nonstructural polyproteins which are co-translationally cleaved to form the mature nsps. Certain host factors like RNH1 and DAZ3 may serve to protect the viral genome from degradation by host enzymes. 4 The nsps form the viral replicase which assembles on organellar membranes to form the replication and transcription complexes (RTCs) where progeny genomes and structural/accessory protein transcripts are produced, respectively. P-body components EDC4 and XRN1, identified in this study, may play a role in maintaining viral RNA stability or assembly of the RTC. 5 Structural and accessory proteins are translated, and structural proteins insert into the ER membrane. ER-localized SLC39A1 may play a role in this process. 6 Nucleocapsids bud into the ERGIC, potentially aided by host factors ERGIC3, SEC63, SLC33A1, and SCAP. 7 Progeny virions form as they traverse through the Golgi and structural proteins are glycosylated. 8 Virions exit the cell through either typical exocytosis (DNM2, EXOC2, EXT1, EXTL3, MYH13, SNX27, VPS35) or nonclassical lysosomal egress (GNPTAB, GNPTG, NAGPA, NPC1, TMEM106B, PIP4P1). Numerous host factors with less obvious direct roles in promoting steps in the viral life cycle have also been identified in CRISPR screens. For example, numerous factors regulating the cell cycle (BAX, CDK4, CDKN1A, DYRK1A, HRK, MPLKIP, PTCH1, STRADA, TP53) were identified in our screens in AGM and human cells. Furthermore, multiple nuclear-localized host factors including diverse transcriptional regulators and two components of the integrator complex (INTS6, INTS12) were identified. Overall, the large number of diverse host factors that promote SARS-CoV-2 replication illustrates the large-scale exploitation of cellular processes required for successful viral propagation. Adapted from BioRender template titled Life Cycle of Coronavirus generated by the Britt Glaunsinger laboratory. Created with BioRender.com

Fig 5: EDC4 overexpression reduced DNA damage caused by DDP and enhanced cell growth of cervical cancer cells. a The level of EDC4 in HeLa and SiHa cells after EDC4 overexpression analyzed by RT-PCR; b The expression of EDC4 in HeLa and SiHa cells after EDC4 overexpression analyzed by Western blot. c The cell viability of EDC4 overexpressed cells measured by MTT. d The cell growth of HeLa and SiHa (with EDC4 overexpression) after treated with DDP evaluated by colony formation assay. (E) The DNA damage of HeLa and SiHa (with EDC4 overexpression) analyzed by ?H2AX immunofluorescent staining. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01 vs. Vector; #p < 0.05, ##p < 0.01 vs. Vector + DDP