Structural insights into the membrane fusion mechanism mediated by influenza virus hemagglutinin.

ABSTRACT: Membrane fusion is involved in many fundamental cellular processes and entry of enveloped viruses into host cells. Influenza type A virus HA has long served as a paradigm for mechanistic studies of protein-mediated membrane fusion via large-scale structural rearrangements induced by acidic pH. Here we report the newly determined crystal structure of influenza B virus HA2 in the postfusion state. Together with a large number of previously determined prefusion structures of influenza A and B virus HA and a postfusion structure of influenza A/H3N2 HA2, we identified conserved features that are shared between influenza A and B virus HA in the conformational transition and documented substantial differences that likely influence the detailed mechanisms of this process. Further studies are neede

SUBMITTER: Ni F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3985705 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature