Insights into the Organization of the Poxvirus Multicomponent Entry-Fusion Complex from Proximity Analyses in Living Infected Cells
Alexander M. Schin, Ulrike S. Diesterbeck, Bernard Moss
Abstract
Poxviruses are enveloped viruses with a DNA-containing core that enters cells following fusion of viral and host membranes. This essential step is a target for vaccines and therapeutics. The entry-fusion complex (EFC) of poxviruses is unusually complex and comprised of 11 conserved viral proteins. Determination of the structure of the EFC is a prerequisite for understanding the fusion mechanism. Here, we used a tripartite split green fluorescent protein assay to determine the proximity of individual EFC proteins in living cells. A network connecting components of the EFC was derived.
Topics & Concepts
BiologyBimolecular fluorescence complementationFusion proteinProtein-fragment complementation assayImmunoprecipitationGreen fluorescent proteinPlasmidCell biologyVacciniaViral proteinViral entryLipid bilayer fusionProtein–protein interactionContext (archaeology)OrthopoxvirusComplementationMolecular biologyVirologyViral replicationRecombinant DNAVirusGeneGeneticsPhenotypePaleontologyPoxvirus research and outbreaksVirus-based gene therapy researchHerpesvirus Infections and Treatments