title: Oblique membrane insertion of viral fusion peptide probed by neutron diffraction.
abstract: Fusion peptides mimic the membrane fusion activities of the larger viral proteins from which they derive their sequences. A possible mode of activity involves their oblique insertion into lipid bilayers, causing membrane disruption by promoting highly curved hemifusion intermediates, leading to fusion. We have determined the location and orientation of the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) fusion peptide in planar lipid bilayers using neutron lamellar diffraction. The helical axis of the peptide adopts an angle of 55 degrees relative to the membrane normal, while it positions itself nearest the lipid bilayer surface. This is the first direct observation of the structural interaction between a fusion peptide and a phospholipid bilayer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preclinical Veterinary Sciences, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Summerhall, Edinburgh EH9 1QH, U.K. J.Bradshaw@ed.ac.uk
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Bradshaw
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Darkes
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Harroun
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Katsaras
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Epand
mesh_terms: D003903:Deuterium; D005583:Fourier Analysis; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000737:chemistry*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009502:Neutrons; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry*; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000737:chemistry; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D015302:Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000737:chemistry*; D014760:Viral Fusion Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D008563:Membrane Lipids; D010455:Peptides; D010743:Phospholipids; D014760:Viral Fusion Proteins; D003903:Deuterium