Structural highlights
Function
[CAPSD_HBVD1] Self assembles to form an icosahedral capsid. Most capsid appear to be large particles with a icosahedral symmetry of T=4 and consist of 240 copies of capsid protein, though a fraction forms smaller T=3 particles consisting of 180 capsid proteins. Entering capsid are transported along microtubules to the nucleus. Phosphorylation of the capsid is thought to induce exposure of nuclear localization signal in the C-terminal portion of the capsid protein that allows binding to the nuclear pore complex via the importin (karyopherin-) alpha and beta. Capsids are imported in intact form through the nuclear pore into the nuclear basket, where it probably binds NUP153. Only capsids that contain the mature viral genome can release the viral DNA and capsid protein into the nucleoplasm. Immature capsids get stucked in the basket. Capsids encapsulate the pre-genomic RNA and the P protein. Pre-genomic RNA is reverse transcribed into DNA while the capsid is still in the cytoplasm. The capsid can then either be directed to the nucleus, providing more genome for transcription, or bud through the endoplasmic reticulum to provide new virions (By similarity).[1] Encapsidates hepatitis delta genome (By similarity).[2]
Publication Abstract from PubMed
HBc, the capsid-forming "core protein" of human hepatitis B virus (HBV), is a multidomain, alpha-helical homodimer that aggressively forms human HBV capsids. Structural plasticity has been proposed to be important to the myriad functions HBc mediates during viral replication. Here, we report detailed thermodynamic analyses of the folding of the dimeric HBc protomer under conditions that prevented capsid formation. Central to our success was the use of ion mobility spectrometry-mass spectrometry and microscale thermophoresis, which allowed folding mechanisms to be characterized using just micrograms of protein. HBc folds in a three-state transition with a stable, dimeric, alpha-helical intermediate. Extensive protein engineering showed thermodynamic linkage between different structural domains. Unusual effects associated with mutating some residues suggest structural strain, arising from frustrated contacts, is present in the native dimer. We found evidence of structural gatekeepers that, when mutated, alleviated native strain and prevented (or significantly attenuated) capsid formation by tuning the population of alternative native conformations. This strain is likely an evolved feature that helps HBc access the different structures associated with its diverse essential functions. The subtle balance between native and strained contacts may provide the means to tune conformational properties of HBc by molecular interactions or mutations, thereby conferring allosteric regulation of structure and function. The ability to trap HBc conformers thermodynamically by mutation, and thereby ablate HBV capsid formation, provides proof of principle for designing antivirals that elicit similar effects.
Thermodynamic origins of protein folding, allostery, and capsid formation in the human hepatitis B virus core protein.,Alexander CG, Jurgens MC, Shepherd DA, Freund SM, Ashcroft AE, Ferguson N Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2013 Jul 3. PMID:23824290[3]
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
References
- ↑ Wingfield PT, Stahl SJ, Williams RW, Steven AC. Hepatitis core antigen produced in Escherichia coli: subunit composition, conformational analysis, and in vitro capsid assembly. Biochemistry. 1995 Apr 18;34(15):4919-32. PMID:7711014
- ↑ Wingfield PT, Stahl SJ, Williams RW, Steven AC. Hepatitis core antigen produced in Escherichia coli: subunit composition, conformational analysis, and in vitro capsid assembly. Biochemistry. 1995 Apr 18;34(15):4919-32. PMID:7711014
- ↑ Alexander CG, Jurgens MC, Shepherd DA, Freund SM, Ashcroft AE, Ferguson N. Thermodynamic origins of protein folding, allostery, and capsid formation in the human hepatitis B virus core protein. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2013 Jul 3. PMID:23824290 doi:10.1073/pnas.1308846110
