title: Multifunctional nature of the arenavirus RING finger protein Z.
abstract: Arenaviruses are a family of enveloped negative-stranded RNA viruses that can cause severe human disease ranging from encephalitis symptoms to fulminant hemorrhagic fever. The bi‑segmented RNA genome encodes four polypeptides: the nucleoprotein NP, the surface glycoprotein GP, the polymerase L, and the RING finger protein Z. Although it is the smallest arenavirus protein with a length of 90 to 99 amino acids and a molecular weight of approx. 11 kDa, the Z protein has multiple functions in the viral life cycle including (i) regulation of viral RNA synthesis, (ii) orchestration of viral assembly and budding, (iii) interaction with host cell proteins, and (iv) interferon antagonism. In this review, we summarize our current understanding of the structural and functional role of the Z protein in the arenavirus replication cycle.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Virologie der Philipps-Universität Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Str. 2, 35043 Marburg, Germany. fehling@staff.uni-marburg.de
authors.forename: Sarah Katharina
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Fehling
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lennartz
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Strecker
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001117:Arenaviridae Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology; D018050:Arenavirus / Q000502:physiology*; D016679:Genome, Viral; D006801:Humans; D054829:RING Finger Domains; D034622:RNA Interference; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014771:Virion / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D014764:Viral Proteins