Ebola Virus Glycoprotein Promotes Enhanced Viral Egress by Preventing Ebola VP40 From Associating With the Host Restriction Factor BST2/Tetherin.

ABSTRACT:

Background

BST2/tetherin is an innate immune molecule with the unique ability to restrict the egress of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other enveloped viruses, including Ebola virus (EBOV). Coincident with this discovery was the finding that the HIV Vpu protein down-regulates BST2 from the cell surface, thereby promoting viral release. Evidence suggests that the EBOV envelope glycoprotein (GP) also counteracts BST2, although the mechanism is unclear.

Results

We find that total levels of BST2 remain unchanged in the presence of GP, whereas surface BST2 is significantly reduced. GP is known to sterically mask surface receptors via its mucin domain. Our evaluation of mutant GP molecules indicate that masking of BST2 by GP is probably responsible for the apparent surface

SUBMITTER: Gustin JK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4564538 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature