Suppression of a fusion defect by second site mutations in the ecotropic murine leukemia virus surface protein.

ABSTRACT: Entry of ecotropic murine leukemia virus initiates when the envelope surface protein recognizes and binds to the virus receptor on host cells. The envelope transmembrane protein then mediates fusion of viral and host cell membranes and penetration into the cytoplasm. Using a genetic selection, we isolated an infectious retrovirus variant containing three changes in the surface protein-histidine 8 to arginine, glutamine 227 to arginine, and aspartate 243 to tyrosine. Single replacement of histidine 8 with arginine (H8R) resulted in almost complete loss of infectivity, even though the mutant envelope proteins were stable and efficiently incorporated into virions. Virions carrying H8R envelope were proficient at binding cells expressing receptor but failed to induce cell-cell fusion of XC cel

SUBMITTER: Zavorotinskaya T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC112548 | biostudies-literature | 1999 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature