A Glycoprotein Mutation That Emerged during the 2013-2016 Ebola Virus Epidemic Alters Proteolysis and Accelerates Membrane Fusion.

ABSTRACT: Genomic surveillance of viral isolates during the 2013-2016 Ebola virus epidemic in Western Africa, the largest and most devastating filovirus outbreak on record, revealed several novel mutations. The responsible strain, named Makona, carries an A-to-V substitution at position 82 (A82V) in the glycoprotein (GP), which is associated with enhanced infectivity in vitro Here, we investigated the mechanistic basis for this enhancement as well as the interplay between A82V and a T-to-I substitution at residue 544 of GP, which also modulates infectivity in cell culture. We found that both 82V and 544I destabilize GP, with the residue at position 544 impacting overall stability, while 82V specifically destabilizes proteolytically cleaved GP. Both residues also promote faster kinetics of lipid mixi

SUBMITTER: Fels JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8545129 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature