title: Direct visualization of the small hydrophobic protein of human respiratory syncytial virus reveals the structural basis for membrane permeability.
abstract: Human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) is the leading cause of lower respiratory tract disease in infants. The HRSV small hydrophobic (SH) protein plays an important role in HRSV pathogenesis, although its mode of action is unclear. Analysis of the ability of SH protein to induce membrane permeability and form homo-oligomers suggests it acts as a viroporin. For the first time, we directly observed functional SH protein using electron microscopy, which revealed SH forms multimeric ring-like objects with a prominent central stained region. Based on current and existing functional data, we propose this region represents the channel that mediates membrane permeability.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
authors.forename: Stephen D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.forename: Kyle C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Dent
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Atkins
authors.forename: Toshana L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Verow
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gorny
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Julian A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hiscox
authors.forename: Neil A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Ranson
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Griffin
authors.forename: John N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Barr
mesh_terms: D015153:Blotting, Western; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D008081:Liposomes / Q000737:chemistry; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D018113:Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human / Q000378:metabolism*; D015682:Retroviridae Proteins, Oncogenic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure*
chemical_list: D008081:Liposomes; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D015682:Retroviridae Proteins, Oncogenic; C056150:small hydrophobic protein, virus
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