Postfusion structure of human-infecting Bourbon virus envelope glycoprotein

Publication date: Available online 13 August 2019Source: Journal of Structural BiologyAuthor(s): Chongzhi Bai, Jianxun Qi, Yan Wu, Xinjie Wang, George Fu Gao, Ruchao Peng, Feng GaoAbstractThogotoviruses are important zoonotic viruses infecting a variety of domestic animals, as well as humans. Among these viruses, Bourbon virus (BRBV) is one of the several human-infecting members, which emerged in the US in recent years and caused human deaths. Here, we report the crystal structure of the BRBV envelope glycoprotein in the postfusion conformation. The structure adopts the typical fold of a class III viral fusion protein and displays an extensive positively charged electrostatic potential pattern, which resembles the glycoprotein of Dhori virus and is consistent with our previous predictions. In addition, compared to other previously defined class III viral fusion proteins, the structures of all thogotovirus glycoproteins and homologs are more similar to herpes virus glycoprotein Bs than to the rhabdovirus G proteins. Thus, class III viral fusion proteins are quite diverse in structure, and sub-classes may have developed during evolution.

Source: Journal of Structural Biology - August 14, 2019 Category: Biology Source Type: research