title: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 3a protein is released in membranous structures from 3a protein-expressing cells and infected cells.
abstract: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SCoV) accessory protein 3a is a virus structural protein. We demonstrate here that 3a protein was released efficiently in membranous structures from various cell lines expressing 3a protein. A subpopulation of the released 3a protein is associated with detergent-resistant membranes. The presence of the YxxPhi and diacidic motifs, located within the cytoplasmic tail of the 3a protein, was not required for its efficient release. Analysis of supernatant from SCoV-infected cells with sucrose gradient sedimentation and virus capture assay indicated that the 3a protein was released from infected cells in two distinct populations, as a component of SCoV particles, and in membrane structures with a lower buoyant density. These data provide new insights into the biological properties of SCoV 3a protein.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX 77555-1019, USA.
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Krishna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Narayanan
authors.forename: Naoto
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Makino
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D045473:Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology; D014709:Vero Cells; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D000086082:Viroporin Proteins
chemical_list: C487105:3a protein, SARS-CoV; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins; D000086082:Viroporin Proteins