Growth of influenza A virus is not impeded by simultaneous removal of the cholesterol-binding and acylation sites in the M2 protein.
Influenza virus assembly and budding occur in the 'budozone', a coalesced raft domain in the plasma membrane. The viral transmembrane protein M2 is implicated in virus particle scission, the ultimate step in virus budding, probably by wedge-like insertion of an amphiphilic helix into the membrane. In order to do this, M2 is hypothesized to be targeted to the edge of the budozone, mediated by acylation and cholesterol binding. It was recently shown that acylation and cholesterol binding affect the membrane association of the cytoplasmic tail of M2 and targeting of the protein to coalesced rafts. This study tested whether combined removal of the acylation site (C50) and the cholesterol recognition/interaction amino acid consensus motifs (key residues Y52 and Y57) in the amphiphilic helix of M2 influenced virus formation. Recombinant influenza viruses were generated in the influenza strain A/WSN/33 background with mutations in one or both of these features. In comparison with the wild-type, all mutant viruses showed very similar growth kinetics in various cell types. Wild-type and mutant viruses differed in their relative M2 content but not regarding the major structural proteins. The morphology of the viruses was not affected by mutating M2. Moreover, wild-type and mutant viruses showed comparable competitive fitness in infected cells. Lastly, a global comparison of M2 sequences revealed that there are natural virus strains with M2 devoid of both lipid-association motifs. Taken together, these results indicate that the acylation and cholesterol-binding motifs in M2 are not crucial for the replication of influenza virus in cell culture, indicating that other factors can target M2 to the budding site.
Freie Universität Berlin, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Immunology and Molecular Biology, Philippstraße 13, 10115 Berlin, Germany.
Bastian
B
Thaa
Freie Universität Berlin, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Immunology and Molecular Biology, Philippstraße 13, 10115 Berlin, Germany.
Claudia
C
Tielesch
Robert Koch Institute, Nordufer 20, 13353 Berlin, Germany.
Lars
L
Möller
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Department for Crop and Animal Sciences, Invalidenstraße 42, 10115 Berlin, Germany.
Armin O
AO
Schmitt
Robert Koch Institute, Nordufer 20, 13353 Berlin, Germany.
Thorsten
T
Wolff
Robert Koch Institute, Nordufer 20, 13353 Berlin, Germany.
Norbert
N
Bannert
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Biology, Molecular Biophysics, Invalidenstraße 42, 10115 Berlin, Germany.
Andreas
A
Herrmann
Freie Universität Berlin, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Immunology and Molecular Biology, Philippstraße 13, 10115 Berlin, Germany.
Michael
M
Veit
D000215:Acylation; D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D002460:Cell Line; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008958:Models, Molecular; D050505:Mutant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D017384:Sequence Deletion; D019562:Viral Load; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D010948:Viral Plaque Assay; D014771:Virion / Q000648:ultrastructure; D057074:Virus Release; D000086082:Viroporin Proteins
D002784:Cholesterol; D050505:Mutant Proteins; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins; C488937:M2 protein, Influenza A virus; D000086082:Viroporin Proteins