Expression of Ebolavirus glycoprotein on the target cells enhances viral entry

Balaji Manicassamy; Lijun Rong

doi:10.1186/1743-422X-6-75

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Expression of Ebolavirus glycoprotein on the target cells enhances viral entry

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Expression of Ebolavirus glycoprotein on the target cells enhances viral entry

Balaji Manicassamy and Lijun Rong

Virology journal, Vol.6(1), pp.75-75

06/08/2009

DOI: 10.1186/1743-422X-6-75

PMCID: PMC2699336

PMID: 19505320

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Abstract

Entry of Ebolavirus to the target cells is mediated by the viral glycoprotein GP. The native GP exists as a homotrimer on the virions and contains two subunits, a surface subunit (GP1) that is involved in receptor binding and a transmembrane subunit (GP2) that mediates the virus-host membrane fusion. Previously we showed that over-expression of GP on the target cells blocks GP-mediated viral entry, which is mostly likely due to receptor interference by GP1. In this study, using a tetracycline inducible system, we report that low levels of GP expression on the target cells, instead of interfering, specifically enhance GP mediated viral entry. Detailed mapping analysis strongly suggests that the fusion subunit GP2 is primarily responsible for this novel phenomenon, here referred to as trans enhancement. Our data suggests that GP2 mediated trans enhancement of virus fusion occurs via a mechanism analogous to eukaryotic membrane fusion processes involving specific trans oligomerization and cooperative interaction of fusion mediators. These findings have important implications in our current understanding of virus entry and superinfection interference.

Cell Line

Gene Expression

Viral Envelope Proteins - genetics

Viral Envelope Proteins - biosynthesis

Models, Biological

Humans

Protein Subunits - biosynthesis

Ebolavirus - physiology

Virus Internalization

Protein Subunits - genetics

Details

Title: Subtitle: Expression of Ebolavirus glycoprotein on the target cells enhances viral entry
Creators: Balaji Manicassamy - Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA. balaji.manicassamy@mssm.edu
Lijun Rong
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Virology journal, Vol.6(1), pp.75-75
DOI: 10.1186/1743-422X-6-75
PMID: 19505320
PMCID: PMC2699336
NLM abbreviation: Virol J
ISSN: 1743-422X
eISSN: 1743-422X
Grant note: R01 AI059570 / NIAID NIH HHS AI 059570 / NIAID NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 06/08/2009
Academic Unit: Microbiology and Immunology
Record Identifier: 9984083871402771

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