title: Structural determinants that target the hepatitis C virus core protein to lipid droplets.
abstract: Hepatitis C virus core protein is targeted to lipid droplets, which serve as intracellular storage organelles, by its C-terminal domain, termed D2. From circular dichroism and nuclear magnetic resonance analyses, we demonstrate that the major structural elements within D2 consist of two amphipathic alpha-helices (Helix I and Helix II) separated by a hydrophobic loop. Both helices require a hydrophobic environment for folding, indicating that lipid interactions contribute to their structural integrity. Mutational studies revealed that a combination of Helix I, the hydrophobic loop, and Helix II is essential for efficient lipid droplet association and pointed to an in-plane membrane interaction of the two helices at the phospholipid layer interface. Aside from lipid droplet association, membrane interaction of D2 is necessary for folding and stability of core following maturation at the endoplasmic reticulum membrane by signal peptide peptidase. These studies identify critical determinants within a targeting domain that enable trafficking and attachment of a viral protein to lipid droplets. They also serve as a unique model for elucidating the specificity of protein-lipid interactions between two membrane-bound organelles.
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Council Virology Unit, Institute of Virology, Church St., Glasgow G11 5JR, Scotland, United Kingdom; Institut de Biologie et Chimie des Protéines, CNRS-UMR 5086, IFR128 BioSciences, University of Lyon, 7 Passage du Vercors, Lyon-Gerland, Lyon F-69367, Cedex 07, France.
authors.forename: Steeve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boulant
authors.affiliation: Institut de Biologie et Chimie des Protéines, CNRS-UMR 5086, IFR128 BioSciences, University of Lyon, 7 Passage du Vercors, Lyon-Gerland, Lyon F-69367, Cedex 07, France.
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Montserret
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Council Virology Unit, Institute of Virology, Church St., Glasgow G11 5JR, Scotland, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: R Graham
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Hope
authors.affiliation: Institut de Biologie et Chimie des Protéines, CNRS-UMR 5086, IFR128 BioSciences, University of Lyon, 7 Passage du Vercors, Lyon-Gerland, Lyon F-69367, Cedex 07, France.
authors.forename: Maxime
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ratinier
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Council Virology Unit, Institute of Virology, Church St., Glasgow G11 5JR, Scotland, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Targett-Adams
authors.affiliation: Institut de Biologie et Chimie des Protéines, CNRS-UMR 5086, IFR128 BioSciences, University of Lyon, 7 Passage du Vercors, Lyon-Gerland, Lyon F-69367, Cedex 07, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Lavergne
authors.affiliation: Institut de Biologie et Chimie des Protéines, CNRS-UMR 5086, IFR128 BioSciences, University of Lyon, 7 Passage du Vercors, Lyon-Gerland, Lyon F-69367, Cedex 07, France. Electronic address: f.penin@ibcp.fr.
authors.forename: Francois
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Penin
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Council Virology Unit, Institute of Virology, Church St., Glasgow G11 5JR, Scotland, United Kingdom. Electronic address: j.mclauchlan@vir.gla.ac.uk.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McLauchlan
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000737:chemistry*; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000378:metabolism; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry*; D017510:Protein Folding; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D018406:Virus Physiological Phenomena
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids; D014758:Viral Core Proteins