SARS coronavirus E protein forms cation-selective ion channels.
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) is caused by a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV). Coronaviruses including SARS-CoV encode an envelope (E) protein, a small, hydrophobic membrane protein. We report that, in planar lipid bilayers, synthetic peptides corresponding to the SARS-CoV E protein forms ion channels that are more permeable to monovalent cations than to monovalent anions. Affinity-purified polyclonal antibodies recognizing the N-terminal 19 residues of SARS-CoV E protein were used to establish the specificity of channel formation by inhibiting the ion currents generated in the presence of the E protein peptides.
Wilson
Lauren
L
Medical School, Frank Fenner Building 42, ANU, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia. lwilson@biotron.com.au
McKinlay
Carolyn
C
Gage
Peter
P
Ewart
Gary
G
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000737:chemistry; D045473:Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / Q000502:physiology*; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*
D007473:Ion Channels; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins