Ebola Virus Matrix Protein VP40 Single Mutations G198R and G201R Significantly Enhance Plasma Membrane Localization

Viral proteins frequently undergo single or multiple amino acid mutations during replication, which can significantly alter their functionality. The Ebola virus matrix protein VP40 is multifunctional but primarily responsible for creating the viral envelope by binding to the inner leaflet of the host cell plasma membrane (PM). Changes to the VP40 surface cationic charge via mutations can influence PM interactions, resulting in altered viral assembly and budding. A recent mutagenesis study evaluated the effects of several mutations and found that mutations G198R and G201R enhanced VP40 assembly at the PM and virus-like particle budding. These two mutations lie in the loop region of the C-terminal domain (CTD), which directly interacts with the PM. To understand the role of these mutations in PM localization at the molecular level, we performed both all-atom and coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations using a dimer-dimer configuration of VP40, which contains the CTD-CTD interface. Our studies indicate that the location of mutations on the outer surface of the CTD regions can lead to changes in membrane binding orientation and degree of membrane penetration. Direct PI(4,5)P₂ interactions with the mutated residues seem to further stabilize and pull VP40 into the PM, thereby enhancing interactions with numerous amino acids that were otherwise infrequently or completely inaccessible. These multiscale computational studies provide new insights at the atomic and molecular level as to how VP40-PM interactions are altered through single amino acid mutations. Given the high case fatality rates associated with Ebola virus disease in humans, it is essential to explore the mechanisms of viral assembly in the presence of mutations to mitigate the severity of the disease and understand the potential of future outbreaks.