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Viral membrane scission

Jeremy S Rossman1, Robert A Lamb

  • 1School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 7NJ, United Kingdom;

Annual Review of Cell and Developmental Biology
|October 9, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Viral budding requires membrane scission, a critical step often mediated by viral proteins. This review explores how enveloped viruses utilize diverse strategies, including host machinery and viral proteins, to achieve efficient virion release.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Cell Biology
  • Virology

Background:

  • Virus budding is a complex process involving viral proteins altering membrane curvature.
  • Membrane scission is a critical, yet challenging, step in releasing enveloped virions.
  • Enveloped viruses employ diverse mechanisms to overcome scission challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the mechanisms of membrane scission in enveloped virus budding.
  • To explore how viruses hijack host machinery or use viral proteins for scission.
  • To discuss the biophysical principles underlying viral scission strategies.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of viral budding and membrane scission mechanisms.
  • Analysis of viral protein functions in membrane deformation and scission.
  • Examination of host-pathogen interactions in viral release.

Main Results:

  • Viral proteins play key roles in deforming membranes and initiating budding.
  • Few viral proteins directly mediate membrane scission, necessitating specialized strategies.
  • Viruses utilize host ESCRT machinery or dedicated viral scission proteins.
  • Diverse viral scission proteins may share underlying biophysical mechanics.

Conclusions:

  • Membrane scission is a crucial bottleneck in enveloped virus replication.
  • Viruses have evolved sophisticated mechanisms to ensure efficient virion release.
  • Understanding viral scission provides insights into viral pathogenesis and potential therapeutic targets.

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