Lassa virus Z protein is a matrix protein and sufficient for the release of virus-like particles [corrected].
Lassa virus is an enveloped virus with glycoprotein spikes on its surface. It contains an RNA ambisense genome that encodes the glycoprotein precursor GP-C, the nucleoprotein NP, the polymerase L, and the Z protein. Here we demonstrate that the Lassa virus Z protein (i). is abundant in viral particles, (ii). is strongly membrane associated, (iii). is sufficient in the absence of all other viral proteins to release enveloped particles, and (iv). contains two late domains, PTAP and PPXY, necessary for the release of virus-like particles. Our data provide evidence that Z is the Lassa virus matrix protein that is the driving force for virus particle release.
Strecker
Thomas
T
Institut für Virologie der Philipps-Universität Marburg, D-35037 Marburg, Germany.
Eichler
Robert
R
Meulen
Jan ter
Jt
Weissenhorn
Winfried
W
Dieter Klenk
Hans
H
Garten
Wolfgang
W
Lenz
Oliver
O
D020816:Amino Acid Motifs; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D007836:Lassa virus / Q000502:physiology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D014771:Virion / Q000502:physiology*
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins; C117526:p11 Z protein, Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus