Emerging Roles of Viroporins Encoded by DNA Viruses: Novel Targets for Antivirals?
Studies have highlighted the essential nature of a group of small, highly hydrophobic, membrane embedded, channel-forming proteins in the life cycles of a growing number of RNA viruses. These viroporins mediate the flow of ions and a range of solutes across cellular membranes and are necessary for manipulating a myriad of host processes. As such they contribute to all stages of the virus life cycle. Recent discoveries have identified proteins encoded by the small DNA tumor viruses that display a number of viroporin like properties. This review article summarizes the recent developments in our understanding of these novel viroporins; describes their roles in the virus life cycles and in pathogenesis and speculates on their potential as targets for anti-viral therapeutic intervention.
School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences and Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK. bs12jr@leeds.ac.uk.
Jamie
J
Royle
School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences and Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK. bs11s3jd@leeds.ac.uk.
Samuel John
SJ
Dobson
School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences and Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK. M.Muller@leeds.ac.uk.
Marietta
M
Müller
School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences and Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK. a.macdonald@leeds.ac.uk.
Andrew
A
Macdonald
D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004267:DNA Viruses / Q000502:physiology*; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D018272:Porins / Q000378:metabolism*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D018272:Porins; D014764:Viral Proteins
DNA virus; papillomavirus; polyomavirus; viroporin