title: Uncovering viral protein-protein interactions and their role in arenavirus life cycle.
abstract: The Arenaviridae family includes widely distributed pathogens that cause severe hemorrhagic fever in humans. Replication and packaging of their single-stranded RNA genome involve RNA recognition by viral proteins and a number of key protein-protein interactions. Viral RNA synthesis is directed by the virus-encoded RNA dependent-RNA polymerase (L protein) and requires viral RNA encapsidation by the Nucleoprotein. In addition to the role that the interaction between L and the Nucleoprotein may have in the replication process, polymerase activity appears to be modulated by the association between L and the small multifunctional Z protein. Z is also a structural component of the virions that plays an essential role in viral morphogenesis. Indeed, interaction of the Z protein with the Nucleoprotein is critical for genome packaging. Furthermore, current evidence suggests that binding between Z and the viral envelope glycoprotein complex is required for virion infectivity, and that Z homo-oligomerization is an essential step for particle assembly and budding. Efforts to understand the molecular basis of arenavirus life cycle have revealed important details on these viral protein-protein interactions that will be reviewed in this article.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Virología Animal (CEVAN), Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología Dr. Cesar Milstein, Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONICET), Saladillo 2468, Buenos Aires C1440FFX, Argentina. eugenialoureiro@yahoo.com.ar
authors.forename: Maria Eugenia
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Loureiro
authors.forename: Alejandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: D'Antuono
authors.forename: Jesica M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Levingston Macleod
authors.forename: Nora
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: López
mesh_terms: D018050:Arenavirus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D060066:Protein Interaction Maps; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D019065:Virus Assembly; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D014764:Viral Proteins