A Gly1 to Ala substitution in poliovirus capsid protein VP0 blocks its myristoylation and prevents viral assembly.
Capsid protein VP4 of poliovirus is acylated with myristic acid via an amide linkage to its N-terminal glycine residue. Our previous studies suggested that myristic acid plays a role in poliovirus assembly and in the early events of infection. In order to understand better its role in the assembly process, we introduced a Gly1 to Ala amino acid substitution in the myristoylation signal sequence of VP4. This substitution prevented VP0 myristoylation in vivo and abolished the infectivity of genomic transcripts harbouring the mutation. These mutated RNAs were still able to replicate in the transfected cells but the assembly processes were inefficient and no mature virions could be detected.
Marc
D
D
Unité de Virologie Moléculaire (CNRS UA 545), Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.
Girard
M
M
van der Werf
S
S
D000409:Alanine / Q000235:genetics; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D002213:Capsid / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D036022:Capsid Proteins; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005998:Glycine / Q000235:genetics; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D009226:Myristates / Q000378:metabolism*; D017955:Poliovirus / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014162:Transfection; D014771:Virion / Q000032:analysis; D014779:Virus Replication
D036022:Capsid Proteins; D009226:Myristates; C442539:VP0 protein, Poliovirus; D000409:Alanine; D005998:Glycine