Structural highlights
Function
GH_HCMVM The heterodimer glycoprotein H-glycoprotein L is required for the fusion of viral and plasma membranes leading to virus entry into the host cell. Following initial binding to host receptor, membrane fusion is mediated by the fusion machinery composed of gB and the heterodimer gH/gL. May also be involved in the fusion between the virion envelope and the outer nuclear membrane during virion morphogenesis.
Publication Abstract from PubMed
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is the leading viral cause of birth defects and organ transplant rejection. The HCMV gH/gL/UL128/UL130/UL131A complex (Pentamer) is the main target of humoral responses and thus a key vaccine candidate. We report two structures of Pentamer bound to human neutralizing antibodies, 8I21 and 9I6, at 3.0 and 5.9 A resolution, respectively. The HCMV gH/gL architecture is similar to that of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) except for amino-terminal extensions on both subunits. The extension of gL forms a subdomain composed of a three-helix bundle and a beta hairpin that acts as a docking site for UL128/UL130/UL131A. Structural analysis reveals that Pentamer is a flexible molecule, and suggests sites for engineering stabilizing mutations. We also identify immunogenic surfaces important for cellular interactions by epitope mapping and functional assays. These results can guide the development of effective vaccines and immunotherapeutics against HCMV.
Structural basis for potent antibody-mediated neutralization of human cytomegalovirus.,Chandramouli S, Malito E, Nguyen T, Luisi K, Donnarumma D, Xing Y, Norais N, Yu D, Carfi A Sci Immunol. 2017 Jun 30;2(12). pii: eaan1457. doi: 10.1126/sciimmunol.aan1457. PMID:28783665[1]
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
References
- ↑ Chandramouli S, Malito E, Nguyen T, Luisi K, Donnarumma D, Xing Y, Norais N, Yu D, Carfi A. Structural basis for potent antibody-mediated neutralization of human cytomegalovirus. Sci Immunol. 2017 Jun 30;2(12). pii: eaan1457. doi: 10.1126/sciimmunol.aan1457. PMID:28783665 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/sciimmunol.aan1457
