Structural highlights
Function
[POLS_IBDVC] Capsid protein VP2 self assembles to form an icosahedral capsid with a T=13 symmetry, about 70 nm in diameter, and consisting of 260 VP2 trimers. The capsid encapsulates the genomic dsRNA. VP2 is also involved in attachment and entry into the host cell by interacting with host ITGA4/ITGB1 (By similarity). The precursor of VP2 plays an important role in capsid assembly. First, pre-VP2 and VP2 oligomers assemble to form a procapsid. Then, the pre-VP2 intermediates may be processed into VP2 proteins by proteolytic cleavage mediated by VP4 to obtain the mature virion. The final capsid is composed of pentamers and hexamers but VP2 has a natural tendency to assemble into all-pentameric structures. Therefore pre-VP2 may be required to allow formation of the hexameric structures (By similarity). Protease VP4 is a serine protease that cleaves the polyprotein into its final products. Pre-VP2 is first partially cleaved, and may be completely processed by VP4 upon capsid maturation (By similarity). Capsid protein VP3 plays a key role in virion assembly by providing a scaffold for the capsid made of VP2. May self-assemble to form a T=4-like icosahedral inner-capsid composed of at least 180 trimers. Plays a role in genomic RNA packaging by recruiting VP1 into the capsid and interacting with the dsRNA genome segments to form a ribonucleoprotein complex. Additionally, the interaction of the VP3 C-terminal tail with VP1 removes the inherent structural blockade of the polymerase active site. Thus, VP3 can also function as a transcriptional activator (By similarity). Structural peptide 1 is a small peptide derived from pre-VP2 C-terminus. It destabilizes and perforates cell membranes, suggesting a role during entry (By similarity). Structural peptide 2 is a small peptide derived from pVP2 C-terminus. It is not essential for the virus viability, but viral growth is affected when missing. Structural peptide 3 is a small peptide derived from pVP2 C-terminus. It is not essential for the virus viability, but viral growth is affected when missing. Structural peptide 4 is a small peptide derived from pVP2 C-terminus. It is essential for the virus viability.
Evolutionary Conservation
Check, as determined by ConSurfDB. You may read the explanation of the method and the full data available from ConSurf.
Publication Abstract from PubMed
Double-stranded RNA virions are transcriptionally competent icosahedral particles that must translocate across a lipid bilayer to function within the cytoplasm of the target cell. Birnaviruses are unique among dsRNA viruses as they have a single T = 13 icosahedral shell, lacking the characteristic inner capsid observed in the others. We determined the crystal structures of the T = 1 subviral particle (260 angstroms in diameter) and of the T = 13 intact virus particle (700 angstroms in diameter) of an avian birnavirus to 3 angstroms and 7 angstroms resolution, respectively. Our results show that VP2, the only component of the virus icosahedral capsid, is homologous both to the capsid protein of positive-strand RNA viruses, like the T = 3 nodaviruses, and to the T = 13 capsid protein of members of the Reoviridae family of dsRNA viruses. Together, these results provide important insights into the multiple functions of the birnavirus capsid and reveal unexpected structural relationships among icosahedral viruses.
The birnavirus crystal structure reveals structural relationships among icosahedral viruses.,Coulibaly F, Chevalier C, Gutsche I, Pous J, Navaza J, Bressanelli S, Delmas B, Rey FA Cell. 2005 Mar 25;120(6):761-72. PMID:15797378[1]
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
References
- ↑ Coulibaly F, Chevalier C, Gutsche I, Pous J, Navaza J, Bressanelli S, Delmas B, Rey FA. The birnavirus crystal structure reveals structural relationships among icosahedral viruses. Cell. 2005 Mar 25;120(6):761-72. PMID:15797378 doi:10.1016/j.cell.2005.01.009
