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Structure-guided mutagenesis targeting interactions between pp150 tegument protein and small capsid protein identify

Alexander Stevens1, Ruth Cruz-Cosme2, Najealicka Armstrong2

  • 1California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.

Virology
|May 28, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Mutations in human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) phosphoprotein 150 (pp150) and its binding partners disrupt viral replication. Targeting these pp150-capsid interactions offers potential for new HCMV antivirals and vaccines.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Structural Biology

Background:

  • Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) replication depends on the tegument phosphoprotein pp150 for cytoplasmic virion maturation.
  • Previous studies identified pp150-capsid interactions, but the role of specific amino acids was unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To experimentally investigate the role of specific amino acids in pp150-capsid interactions.
  • To analyze the impact of mutations on HCMV replication and capsid stability.

Main Methods:

  • Site-directed mutagenesis of pp150 and the small capsid protein (SCP).
  • Analysis of viral replication in infected cells.
  • Structural analysis of protein-protein interactions.

Main Results:

  • Mutations in polar or hydrophobic residues at the pp150-SCP interface completely abolished viral replication.
  • A single mutation (pp150 K255E) at the pp150-major capsid protein (MCP) interface significantly attenuated viral replication.
  • Unlike pp150 deletion mutants, the pp150 K255E mutant showed no capsid degradation outside host nuclei.

Conclusions:

  • Specific amino acids within pp150-capsid interaction sites are critical for HCMV replication.
  • The pp150 K255E mutant provides a valuable tool for studying HCMV assembly and maturation.
  • Targeting pp150-capsid interactions presents a promising strategy for developing HCMV antivirals and vaccines.
Keywords:
CapsidHCMVReplicationStructureTegument

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