The structure of avian polyomavirus reveals variably sized capsids, non-conserved inter-capsomere interactions, and a possible location of the minor capsid protein VP4
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602 (United States)
- Institute for Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, D-04103 Leipzig (Germany)
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI 02903 (United States)
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology and Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA 95616 (United States)
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093 (United States)
Avian polyomavirus (APV) causes a fatal, multi-organ disease among several bird species. Using cryogenic electron microscopy and other biochemical techniques, we investigated the structure of APV and compared it to that of mammalian polyomaviruses, particularly JC polyomavirus and simian virus 40. The structure of the pentameric major capsid protein (VP1) is mostly conserved; however, APV VP1 has a unique, truncated C-terminus that eliminates an intercapsomere-connecting {beta}-hairpin observed in other polyomaviruses. We postulate that the terminal {beta}-hairpin locks other polyomavirus capsids in a stable conformation and that absence of the hairpin leads to the observed capsid size variation in APV. Plug-like density features were observed at the base of the VP1 pentamers, consistent with the known location of minor capsid proteins VP2 and VP3. However, the plug density is more prominent in APV and may include VP4, a minor capsid protein unique to bird polyomaviruses.
- OSTI ID:
- 21486922
- Journal Information:
- Virology, Vol. 411, Issue 1; Other Information: DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2010.12.005; PII: S0042-6822(10)00749-X; Copyright (c) 2010 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; ISSN 0042-6822
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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