Oligomerization of Ebola virus VP40 is essential for particle morphogenesis and regulation of viral transcription.

ABSTRACT: The morphogenesis and budding of virus particles represent an important stage in the life cycle of viruses. For Ebola virus, this process is driven by its major matrix protein, VP40. Like the matrix proteins of many other nonsegmented, negative-strand RNA viruses, VP40 has been demonstrated to oligomerize and to occur in at least two distinct oligomeric states: hexamers and octamers, which are composed of antiparallel dimers. While it has been shown that VP40 oligomers are essential for the viral life cycle, their function is completely unknown. Here we have identified two amino acids essential for oligomerization of VP40, the mutation of which blocked virus-like particle production. Consistent with this observation, oligomerization-deficient VP40 also showed impaired intracellular transpo

SUBMITTER: Hoenen T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2898221 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature