Transient Excursions to Membrane Core as Determinants of Influenza Virus Fusion Peptide Activity.

ABSTRACT: Fusion of viral and host cell membranes is a critical step in the life cycle of enveloped viruses. In the case of influenza virus, it is mediated by subunit 2 of hemagglutinin (HA) glycoprotein whose N-terminal fragments insert into the target membrane and initiate lipid exchange. These isolated fragments, known as fusion peptides (HAfp), already possess own fusogenic activity towards liposomes. Although they have long been studied with the hope to uncover the details of HA-mediated fusion, their actual mechanism of action remains elusive. Here, we use extensive molecular dynamics simulations combined with experimental studies of three HAfp variants to fully characterize their free energy landscape and interaction with lipid bilayer. In addition to customary assumed peptides localization a

SUBMITTER: Worch R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8157580 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature