Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2013, 14, 4030-4049; doi:10.3390/ijms14024030 OPEN ACCESS International Journal of Molecular Sciences ISSN 1422-0067 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijms Review The Role of F-Box Proteins during Viral Infection Régis Lopes Correa 1, Fernanda Prieto Bruckner 2, Renan de Souza Cascardo 1,2 and Poliane Alfenas-Zerbini 2,* 1 Department of Genetics, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21944-970, Brazil; E-Mails:
[email protected] (R.L.C.);
[email protected] (R.S.C.) 2 Department of Microbiology/BIOAGRO, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa, MG 36570-000, Brazil; E-Mail:
[email protected] * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail:
[email protected]; Tel.: +55-31-3899-2955; Fax: +55-31-3899-2864. Received: 23 October 2012; in revised form: 14 December 2012 / Accepted: 17 January 2013 / Published: 18 February 2013 Abstract: The F-box domain is a protein structural motif of about 50 amino acids that mediates protein–protein interactions. The F-box protein is one of the four components of the SCF (SKp1, Cullin, F-box protein) complex, which mediates ubiquitination of proteins targeted for degradation by the proteasome, playing an essential role in many cellular processes. Several discoveries have been made on the use of the ubiquitin–proteasome system by viruses of several families to complete their infection cycle. On the other hand, F-box proteins can be used in the defense response by the host. This review describes the role of F-box proteins and the use of the ubiquitin–proteasome system in virus–host interactions.