Multifunctional Nature of the Arenavirus RING Finger Protein Z

Viruses

Sarah Katharina Fehling¹  Frank Lennartz¹ 

关键词: Arenavirus;    ESCRT;    Lassa virus;    Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus;    Junin virus;    matrix protein;    RING finger protein;    virus assembly and budding;    virus-host cell interaction;    Z protein;   

DOI  :  10.3390/v4112973

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Arenaviruses are a family of enveloped negative-stranded RNA viruses that can cause severe human disease ranging from encephalitis symptoms to fulminant hemorrhagic fever. The bi‑segmented RNA genome encodes four polypeptides: the nucleoprotein NP, the surface glycoprotein GP, the polymerase L, and the RING finger protein Z. Although it is the smallest arenavirus protein with a length of 90 to 99 amino acids and a molecular weight of approx. 11 kDa, the Z protein has multiple functions in the viral life cycle including (i) regulation of viral RNA synthesis, (ii) orchestration of viral assembly and budding, (iii) interaction with host cell proteins, and (iv) interferon antagonism. In this review, we summarize our current understanding of the structural and functional role of the Z protein in the arenavirus replication cycle.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2012 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.