Structural highlights
Function
[POL2_GFLV] Protein 2A: implicated in RNA2 replication. Could also be required for nematode transmission of the virus. Movement protein: transports viral genome to neighboring plant cells directly through plasmosdesmata, without any budding. The movement protein allows efficient cell to cell propagation, by bypassing the host cell wall barrier. Acts by forming a tubular structure at the host plasmodesmata, enlarging it enough to allow free passage of virion capsids.
Publication Abstract from PubMed
The small icosahedral plant RNA nepovirus Grapevine fanleaf virus (GFLV) is specifically transmitted by a nematode and causes major damage to vineyards worldwide. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the recognition between the surface of its protein capsid and cellular components of its vector, host and viral proteins synthesized upon infection, the wild type GFLV strain F13 and a natural mutant (GFLV-TD) carrying a GlyAsp mutation were purified, characterized and crystallized. Subsequently, the geometry and volume of their crystals was optimized by establishing phase diagrams. GFLV-TD was twice as soluble as the parent virus in the crystallization solution and its crystals diffracted X-rays to a resolution of 2.7 A. The diffraction limit of GFLV-F13 crystals was extended from 5.5 to 3 A by growth in agarose gel. Preliminary crystallographic analyses indicate that both types of crystals are suitable for structure determination. Keys for the successful production of GFLV crystals include the rigorous quality control of virus preparations, crystal quality improvement using phase diagrams, and crystal lattice reinforcement by growth in agarose gel. These strategies are applicable to the production of well-diffracting crystals of other viruses and macromolecular assemblies.
Strategies for the crystallization of viruses: using phase diagrams and gels to produce 3D crystals of Grapevine fanleaf virus.,Schellenberger P, Demangeat G, Lemaire O, Ritzenthaler C, Bergdoll M, Olieric V, Sauter C, Lorber B J Struct Biol. 2011 May;174(2):344-51. Epub 2011 Feb 23. PMID:21352920[1]
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
References
- ↑ Schellenberger P, Demangeat G, Lemaire O, Ritzenthaler C, Bergdoll M, Olieric V, Sauter C, Lorber B. Strategies for the crystallization of viruses: using phase diagrams and gels to produce 3D crystals of Grapevine fanleaf virus. J Struct Biol. 2011 May;174(2):344-51. Epub 2011 Feb 23. PMID:21352920 doi:10.1016/j.jsb.2011.02.007
