title: Cell entry by measles virus: long hybrid receptors uncouple binding from membrane fusion.
abstract: The pH-independent fusion of membranes induced by measles virus (MV) requires, in addition to the fusion-competent protein F, hemagglutinin (H), and on the target membrane, the virus receptor CD46. We constructed hybrid receptors composed of different numbers and combinations of the four CD46 short consensus repeat (SCR) domains, followed by immunoglobulin-like domains of another cell surface protein, CD4. Hybrid proteins containing SCRs I and II bound MV particles and conferred fusion competence to rodent cells. SCRs III and/or IV strengthened MV binding. Increasing the distance between the MV binding site and the transmembrane domain enhanced virus binding but reduced fusion efficiency. A hybrid protein predicted to be about 120 Angstroms (12 nm) longer than the standard receptor lost fusion support function and was dominant negative over a functional receptor. These data indicate that receptor protein length influences virus binding and determines fusion efficiency.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Molekularbiologie, Universität Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Buchholz
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Devaux
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gerlier
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cattaneo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000502:physiology*; D016466:CHO Cells; D006224:Cricetinae; D008459:Measles virus / Q000502:physiology*; D051916:Membrane Cofactor Protein; D008561:Membrane Fusion; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000502:physiology*; D011991:Receptors, Virus / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D051916:Membrane Cofactor Protein; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D011991:Receptors, Virus