Insights into a structure-based mechanism of viral membrane fusion.
A number of different viral spike proteins, responsible for membrane fusion, show striking similarities in their core structures. The prospect of developing a general structure-based mechanism seems plausible in light of these newly determined structures. Influenza hemagglutinin (HA) is the best-studied fusion machine, whose action has previously been described by a hypothetical "spring-loaded" model. This model has recently been extended to explain the mechanism of other systems, such as HIV gp120-gp41. However, evidence supporting this idea is insufficient, requiring re-examination of the mechanism of HA-induced membrane fusion. Recent experiments with a shortened construct of HA, which is able to induce lipid mixing, have provided evidence for an alternative scenario for HA-induced membrane fusion and perhaps that of other viral systems.
LeDuc
D L
DL
Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, USA.
Shin
Y K
YK
D006388:Hemagglutinins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D008561:Membrane Fusion / Q000502:physiology*; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D014760:Viral Fusion Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology*
D006388:Hemagglutinins; D014760:Viral Fusion Proteins