Mutagenesis of the transmembrane domain of the SARS coronavirus spike glycoprotein : refinement of the requirements for SARS coronavirus cell entry

BACKGROUND: The spike protein (S) of SARS Coronavirus (SARS-CoV) mediates entry of the virus into target cells, including receptor binding and membrane fusion. Close to or in the viral membrane, the S protein contains three distinct motifs: a juxtamembrane aromatic part, a central highly hydrophobic stretch and a cysteine rich motif. Here, we investigate the role of aromatic and hydrophobic parts of S in the entry of SARS CoV and in cell-cell fusion. This was investigated using the previously described SARS pseudotyped particles system (SARSpp) and by fluorescence-based cell-cell fusion assays.

RESULTS: Mutagenesis showed that the aromatic domain was crucial for SARSpp entry into cells, with a likely role in pore enlargement.Introduction of lysine residues in the hydrophobic stretch of S also resulted in a block of entry, suggesting the borders of the actual transmembrane domain. Surprisingly, replacement of a glycine residue, situated close to the aromatic domain, with a lysine residue was tolerated, whereas the introduction of a lysine adjacent to the glycine, was not. In a model, we propose that during fusion, the lateral flexibility of the transmembrane domain plays a critical role, as do the tryptophans and the cysteines.

CONCLUSIONS: The aromatic domain plays a crucial role in the entry of SARS CoV into target cells. The positioning of the aromatic domain and the hydrophobic domain relative to each other is another essential characteristic of this membrane fusion process.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2009

Erschienen:

2009

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:6

Enthalten in:

Virology journal - 6(2009) vom: 24. Dez., Seite 230

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Corver, Jeroen [VerfasserIn]
Broer, Rene [VerfasserIn]
van Kasteren, Puck [VerfasserIn]
Spaan, Willy [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

Journal Article
Membrane Glycoproteins
Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus
Spike glycoprotein, SARS-CoV
Spike protein, mouse hepatitis virus
Viral Envelope Proteins

Anmerkungen:

Date Completed 25.03.2010

Date Revised 07.12.2022

published: Electronic

Citation Status MEDLINE

doi:

10.1186/1743-422X-6-230

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM193980908