title: Influenza fusion peptides.
abstract: The 'fusion peptides' of a group of enveloped viruses that includes influenza, paramyxo-, retro-and filo-viruses are N-terminal regions of their membrane fusion proteins generated by cleavage of non-functional precursors. For the influenza membrane fusion protein, haemagglutinin (HA), the three-dimensional structures of precursor HA, cleaved HA and fusion-activated HA show that the fusion peptides are located in different positions in all three forms and adopt different structures. Analyses of mutant HAs with changes in fusion peptide sequence indicate the importance of specific residues for membrane-fusion activity and suggest a structure for the fusion peptide in a fusion-active molecule.
authors.affiliation: Division of Virology, MRC National Institute for Medical Research, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA, UK. mbrenna@nimr.mrc.ac.uk
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Skehel
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cross
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Steinhauer
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Wiley
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus / Q000737:chemistry*; D008561:Membrane Fusion / Q000502:physiology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009975:Orthomyxoviridae / Q000502:physiology*; D011487:Protein Conformation; D013045:Species Specificity; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus