22
January 2004
Viral entry into host cells: Class-II fusion proteins target the membrane
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Membrane fusion is a key event in host-cell entry by viruses with lipid bilayers, mediated by a viral fusion protein. 'Class I' fusion proteins include the extensively studied influenza virus haemagglutinin. Two groups report in this issue the post-fusion structures of 'class II' fusion proteins, from dengue and Semliki Forest viruses. The structures give direct views of fusion-peptide loops as they insert into a target membrane. They reveal aspects of the fusion mechanism, and point to strategies for inhibiting viral entry into host cells. The cover depicts a dengue virus envelope protein trimer just after fusion of viral (blue) and cellular (pink) lipid membranes. A fusion loop (orange) anchors the protein in the membrane. Viral contents (red) enter the cell (blue) via the fusion pore (purple).
Structure of the dengue virus envelope protein
after membrane fusion
YORGO MODIS, STEVEN OGATA, DAVID CLEMENTS & STEPHEN
C. HARRISON
Nature 427, 313–319 (2004); doi:10.1038/nature02165
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Conformational change and protein-protein interactions
of the fusion protein of Semliki Forest virus
DON L. GIBBONS, MARIE-CHRISTINE VANEY, ALAIN ROUSSEL,
ARMELLE VIGOUROUX, BRIGID REILLY, JEAN LEPAULT, MARGARET KIELIAN &
F�LIX A. REY
Nature 427, 320–325 (2004); doi:10.1038/nature02239
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Virology: A class act
THEODORE S. JARDETZKY & ROBERT A. LAMB
Membrane fusion occurs in many situations in living organisms — when
certain viruses enter host cells, for instance. Three crystal structures
shed light on the protein rearrangements that bring about such fusion.
Nature 427, 307–308 (2004); doi:10.1038/427307a
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