We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
4.4 Å cryo-EM structure of an enveloped alphavirus Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus.
- Authors
Zhang, Rui; Hryc, Corey F; Cong, Yao; Liu, Xiangan; Jakana, Joanita; Gorchakov, Rodion; Baker, Matthew L; Weaver, Scott C; Chiu, Wah
- Abstract
Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV), a member of the membrane-containing Alphavirus genus, is a human and equine pathogen, and has been developed as a biological weapon. Using electron cryo-microscopy (cryo-EM), we determined the structure of an attenuated vaccine strain, TC-83, of VEEV to 4.4 Å resolution. Our density map clearly resolves regions (including E1, E2 transmembrane helices and cytoplasmic tails) that were missing in the crystal structures of domains of alphavirus subunits. These new features are implicated in the fusion, assembly and budding processes of alphaviruses. Furthermore, our map reveals the unexpected E3 protein, which is cleaved and generally thought to be absent in the mature VEEV. Our structural results suggest a mechanism for the initial stage of nucleocapsid core formation, and shed light on the virulence attenuation, host recognition and neutralizing activities of VEEV and other alphavirus pathogens.
- Publication
The EMBO journal, 2011, Vol 30, Issue 18, p3854
- ISSN
1460-2075
- Publication type
Journal Article
- DOI
10.1038/emboj.2011.261