Home > Publications database > Targeted mutagenesis of the herpesvirus fusogen central helix captures transition states |
Journal Article | PUBDB-2024-05669 |
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2023
Nature Publishing Group UK
[London]
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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1038/s41467-023-43011-w doi:10.3204/PUBDB-2024-05669
Abstract: Herpesviruses remain a burden for animal and human health, including the medically important varicella-zoster virus (VZV). Membrane fusion mediated by conserved core glycoproteins, the fusogen gB and the heterodimer gH-gL, enables herpesvirus cell entry. The ectodomain of gB orthologs has five domains and is proposed to transition from a prefusion to postfusion conformation but the functional relevance of the domains for this transition remains poorly defined. Here we describe structure-function studies of the VZV gB DIII central helix targeting residues $^{526}$EHV$^{528}$. Critically, a H527P mutation captures gB in a prefusion conformation as determined by cryo-EM, a loss of membrane fusion in a virus free assay, and failure of recombinant VZV to spread in cell monolayers. Importantly, two predominant cryo-EM structures of gB[H527P] are identified by 3D classification and focused refinement, suggesting they represented gB conformations in transition. These studies reveal gB DIII as a critical element for herpesvirus gB fusion function.
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