Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced in various cell compartments by an array of
enzymes and processes. An excess of ROS production can be hazardous for normal cell functioning, whereas at normal levels, ROS act as vital regulators of many signal transduction pathways and
transcription factors. ROS production is affected by a wide range of viruses. However, to date, the impact of
viral infections has been studied only in respect to selected ROS-generating
enzymes. The role of several ROS-generating and -scavenging
enzymes or cellular systems in
viral infections has never been addressed. In this review, we focus on the roles of
biogenic polyamines and oxidative protein folding in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and their interplay with viruses.
Polyamines act as ROS scavengers, however, their catabolism is accompanied by H₂O₂ production.
Hydrogen peroxide is also produced during oxidative protein folding, with ER oxidoreductin 1 (Ero1) being a major source of oxidative equivalents. In addition, Ero1 controls Ca2+ efflux from the ER in response to e.g., ER stress. Here, we briefly summarize the current knowledge on the physiological roles of
biogenic polyamines and the role of Ero1 at the ER, and present available data on their interplay with
viral infections.