Dimerization of tetherin is not essential for its antiviral activity against Lassa and Marburg viruses.
Tetherin (also known as BST2, CD317 or HM1.24) has recently been reported to inhibit a wide range of viruses. However, the antiviral mechanism of action of tetherin has not been determined. Both ends of the tetherin molecule are associated with the plasma membrane and it forms a homodimer. Therefore, a model in which progeny virions are retained on the cell surface by dimer formation between tetherin molecules on the viral envelope and plasma membrane has been proposed as the antiviral mechanism of action of this molecule. To investigate this possibility, we examined the correlation between dimerization and antiviral activity of tetherin in Lassa and Marburg virus-like particle production systems using tetherin mutants deficient in dimer formation. However, the tetherin mutant with complete loss of dimerization activity still showed apparent antiviral activity, indicating that dimerization of tetherin is not essential for its antiviral activity. This suggests that tetherin retains progeny virions on the cell surface by a mechanism other than dimerization.
Sakuma
Toshie
T
First Department of Forensic Science, National Research Institute of Police Science, Kashiwa, Japan.
Sakurai
Akira
A
Yasuda
Jiro
J
D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000737:chemistry*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D019556:COS Cells; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D019281:Dimerization; D004220:Disulfides; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D006801:Humans; D007836:Lassa virus / Q000378:metabolism*; D029024:Marburgvirus / Q000378:metabolism*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009154:Mutation; D010957:Plasmids / Q000378:metabolism; D014771:Virion / Q000378:metabolism; D000074010:Bone Marrow Stromal Antigen 2
D015703:Antigens, CD; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004220:Disulfides; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; C094572:BST2 protein, human; D000074010:Bone Marrow Stromal Antigen 2