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The coxsackievirus A9 RGD motif is not essential for virus viability
P J Hughes1, C Horsnell, T Hyypiä
1Department of Biology, University of Essex, Colchester, United Kingdom.
Abstract:
An RGD (arginine-glycine-aspartic acid) motif in coxsackievirus A9 has been implicated in internalization through an interaction with the integrin alpha v beta 3. We have produced a number of virus mutants, lacking the motif, which have a small-plaque phenotype in LLC-Mk2 and A-Vero cells and are phenotypically normal in RD cells. Substitution of flanking amino acids also affected plaque size. The results suggest that interaction between the RGD motif and alpha v beta 3 is not critical for virus viability in the cell lines tested and therefore that alternative regions of the CAV-9 capsid are involved in internalization.
Insights
The arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) motif in coxsackievirus A9 is not essential for virus viability. Alternative capsid regions likely mediate internalization into host cells.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
- Cellular Biology
Background:
- The arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) motif in coxsackievirus A9 (CAV-9) is proposed to mediate viral internalization via integrin alpha v beta 3.
- Integrin-mediated viral entry is a key process in the life cycle of many viruses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of the RGD motif in CAV-9 internalization and infectivity.
- To determine if the RGD-integrin interaction is critical for CAV-9 viability across different cell types.
Main Methods:
- Generation of CAV-9 mutants lacking the RGD motif.
- Analysis of plaque phenotype in LLC-Mk2, A-Vero, and RD cell lines.
- Assessment of viral viability and infectivity in mutant strains.
Main Results:
- CAV-9 mutants lacking the RGD motif exhibited a small-plaque phenotype in LLC-Mk2 and A-Vero cells.
- These mutants remained phenotypically normal in RD cells, indicating cell-type-specific effects.
- Substitution of amino acids flanking the RGD motif also influenced plaque size.
Conclusions:
- The RGD motif-integrin alpha v beta 3 interaction is not essential for CAV-9 viability in the tested cell lines.
- Alternative regions on the CAV-9 capsid are likely involved in mediating viral internalization.
- These findings suggest alternative mechanisms for CAV-9 entry into host cells.