VP24

Introduction

VP24 is a protein present in the Ebola and Marburg viruses, both of which are members of Filoviridae family. Presently there are five strains of ebola: Sudan, Reston, Zire, Bundibugyo, and Taï Forest, each with minor differences in VP24 sequences(3). The Marburg virus has only one strain.

Function

Ebola

In a normal immune response interferons (IFN) are produced to alert surrounding cells of the presence of a pathogen. This response activates STAT1, which increases production of immune fighting genes in cells, by phosphorylation. STAT1 is brought to the nucleus by karyopherin α proteins. Ebola protein VP24 binds to karyopherin α1, α5, and α6, making it unable to transport the P-STAT1 to the nucleus. As a result the immune response in cells is then greatly weakened. The Reston strain is the only strain that is not dangerous to humans.

VP24 also is important for the structure of the virus. The structure of the nucleocapsid helix of Ebola

Marburg

Structural Characteristics

The Ebola and Marburg VP24 proteins are 30% identical. They share a similar pyramidal shaped domain, as well as a few structures. Both viruses have two highly conserved pockets underneath the "pyramid's" base. Additionally, the N termini of Ebola (Zaire) and the Marburg virus are very similar in function. They are used by the for proper nucleocapsid functioning.

(Reston)

There are a few structural characteristics only found in the Ebola viruses. At the top of the pyramidal domain, there are α helices present which are thought to interact with the α karyopherin. An α helix formed by the N-terminus runs from the top of the "pyramid" to one of the pockets located underneath the "pyramid."