Aquareovirus effects syncytiogenesis by using a novel member of the FAST protein family translated from a noncanonical translation start site.
As nonenveloped viruses, the aquareoviruses and orthoreoviruses are unusual in their ability to induce cell-cell fusion and syncytium formation. While an extraordinary family of fusion-associated small transmembrane (FAST) proteins is responsible for orthoreovirus syncytiogenesis, the basis for aquareovirus-induced syncytiogenesis is unknown. We now report that the S7 genome segment of an Atlantic salmon reovirus is polycistronic and uses a noncanonical CUG translation start codon to produce a 22-kDa integral membrane protein responsible for syncytiogenesis. The aquareovirus p22 protein represents a fourth distinct member of the FAST family with a unique repertoire and arrangement of structural motifs.
Racine
Trina
T
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Hurst
Tara
T
Barry
Chris
C
Shou
Jingyun
J
Kibenge
Frederick
F
Duncan
Roy
R
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002460:Cell Line; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D016679:Genome, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D015726:Giant Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016366:Open Reading Frames / Q000235:genetics; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D012087:Reoviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020317:Salmo salar / Q000821:virology; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D053586:Virus Internalization
D008565:Membrane Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins