A structural analysis of M protein in coronavirus assembly and morphology

Benjamin W. Neuman, Gabriella Kiss, Andreas Hjarne Kunding, David Bhella, M. Fazil Baksh, Stephen Connelly, Ben Droese, Joseph P. Klaus, Shinji Makino, Stanley G. Sawicki, Stuart G. Siddell, Dimitrios G. Stamou, Ian A. Wilson, Peter Kuhn, Michael J. Buchmeier

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

Abstract

The M protein of coronavirus plays a central role in virus assembly, turning cellular membranes into workshops where virus and host factors come together to make new virus particles. We investigated how M structure and organization is related to virus shape and size using cryo-electron microscopy, tomography and statistical analysis. We present evidence that suggests M can adopt two conformations and that membrane curvature is regulated by one M conformer. Elongated M protein is associated with rigidity, clusters of spikes and a relatively narrow range of membrane curvature. In contrast, compact M protein is associated with flexibility and low spike density. Analysis of several types of virus-like particles and virions revealed that S protein, N protein and genomic RNA each help to regulate virion size and variation, presumably through interactions with M. These findings provide insight into how M protein functions to promote virus assembly.
Keyword: Cryo-electron microscopy,Viral matrix protein,Coronavirus,Pleomorphic virus structure,Cryo-electron tomography
Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Structural Biology
Volume174
Pages (from-to)11-22
ISSN1047-8477
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2011
Externally publishedYes

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