title: Structure of the measles virus hemagglutinin bound to the CD46 receptor.
abstract: The highly contagious measles virus infects millions of individuals worldwide, causing serious disease in children of developing countries. Infection is initiated by attachment of the measles virus hemagglutinin (MV-H), a glycoprotein anchored to the virus envelope, to the host cell receptors CD46 or signaling lymphocyte activation molecule (SLAM). Here we report the crystal structure of MV-H in complex with a CD46 protein spanning the two N-terminal domains. A unique groove at the side of the MV-H beta-propeller domain, which is absent in homologous paramyxovirus attachment proteins, engages residues in both CD46 domains. Key contacts involve a protruding loop in the N-terminal CD46 domain that carries two sequential proline residues (PP motif) and penetrates deeply into a hydrophobic socket in MV-H. We identify a similar PP motif in SLAM, defining a common measles virus recognition epitope in the CD46 and SLAM receptor proteins.
authors.affiliation: Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Campus Universidad Autónoma, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: César
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Santiago
authors.forename: María L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Celma
authors.forename: Thilo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stehle
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Casasnovas
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D003460:Crystallization; D006389:Hemagglutinins, Viral / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D008459:Measles virus / Q000737:chemistry*; D051916:Membrane Cofactor Protein / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D008958:Models, Molecular; D011485:Protein Binding; D011487:Protein Conformation; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D000071177:Signaling Lymphocytic Activation Molecule Family Member 1
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D006389:Hemagglutinins, Viral; D051916:Membrane Cofactor Protein; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; C032397:hemagglutinin protein G, measles virus; D000071177:Signaling Lymphocytic Activation Molecule Family Member 1