A 3D model of the membrane protein complex formed by the white spot syndrome virus structural proteins.
BACKGROUND
Outbreaks of white spot disease have had a large negative economic impact on cultured shrimp worldwide. However, the pathogenesis of the causative virus, WSSV (whit spot syndrome virus), is not yet well understood. WSSV is a large enveloped virus. The WSSV virion has three structural layers surrounding its core DNA: an outer envelope, a tegument and a nucleocapsid. In this study, we investigated the protein-protein interactions of the major WSSV structural proteins, including several envelope and tegument proteins that are known to be involved in the infection process.


RESULTS
In the present report, we used coimmunoprecipitation and yeast two-hybrid assays to elucidate and/or confirm all the interactions that occur among the WSSV structural (envelope and tegument) proteins VP51A, VP19, VP24, VP26 and VP28. We found that VP51A interacted directly not only with VP26 but also with VP19 and VP24. VP51A, VP19 and VP24 were also shown to have an affinity for self-interaction. Chemical cross-linking assays showed that these three self-interacting proteins could occur as dimers.


CONCLUSIONS
From our present results in conjunction with other previously established interactions we construct a 3D model in which VP24 acts as a core protein that directly associates with VP26, VP28, VP38A, VP51A and WSV010 to form a membrane-associated protein complex. VP19 and VP37 are attached to this complex via association with VP51A and VP28, respectively. Through the VP26-VP51C interaction this envelope complex is anchored to the nucleocapsid, which is made of layers of rings formed by VP664. A 3D model of the nucleocapsid and the surrounding outer membrane is presented.
Chang
Yun-Shiang
YS
Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Da-Yeh University, Changhua, Taiwan. yschang@mail.dyu.edu.tw
Liu
Wang-Jing
WJ
Lee
Cheng-Chung
CC
Chou
Tsung-Lu
TL
Lee
Yuan-Ting
YT
Wu
Tz-Shian
TS
Huang
Jiun-Yan
JY
Huang
Wei-Tung
WT
Lee
Tai-Lin
TL
Kou
Guang-Hsiung
GH
Wang
Andrew H-J
AH
Lo
Chu-Fang
CF
D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D019251:Nucleocapsid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding; D055503:Protein Multimerization; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D015678:Viral Structural Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D046848:White spot syndrome virus 1 / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure
D008565:Membrane Proteins; D015678:Viral Structural Proteins