Genetic analysis of heptad-repeat regions in the G2 fusion subunit of the Junín arenavirus envelope glycoprotein

Joanne York, Sudhakar S. Agnihothram, Victor Romanowski, Jack H. Nunberg

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46 Scopus citations

Abstract

The G2 fusion subunit of the Junín virus envelope glycoprotein GP-C contains two hydrophobic heptad-repeat regions that are postulated to form a six-helix bundle structure required for the membrane fusion activity of Class I viral fusion proteins. We have investigated the role of these heptad-repeat regions and, specifically, the importance of the putative interhelical a and d position sidechains by using alanine-scanning mutagenesis. All the mutant glycoproteins were expressed and transported to the cell surface. Proteolytic maturation at the subtilisin kexin isozyme-1/site-1-protease (SKI-1/S1P) cleavage site was observed in all but two of the mutants. Among the adequately cleaved mutant glycoproteins, four positions in the N-terminal region (I333, L336, L347 and L350) and two positions in the C-terminal region (R392 and W395) were shown to be important determinants of cell-cell fusion. Taken together, our results indicate that α-helical coiled-coil structures are likely critical in promoting arenavirus membrane fusion. These findings support the inclusion of the arenavirus GP-C among the Class I viral fusion proteins and suggest pharmacologic and immunologic strategies for targeting arenavirus infection and hemorrhagic fever.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)267-274
Number of pages8
JournalVirology
Volume343
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 20 2005

Keywords

  • Arenavirus
  • Envelope glycoprotein
  • GP-C
  • Junín virus or Argentine hemorrhagic fever virus
  • Membrane fusion
  • Mutagenesis
  • Six-helix bundle

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