Structural insights into calicivirus attachment and uncoating

J Virol. 2008 Aug;82(16):8051-8. doi: 10.1128/JVI.00550-08. Epub 2008 Jun 11.

Abstract

The Caliciviridae family comprises positive-sense RNA viruses of medical and veterinary significance. In humans, caliciviruses are a major cause of acute gastroenteritis, while in animals respiratory illness, conjunctivitis, stomatitis, and hemorrhagic disease are documented. Investigation of virus-host interactions is limited by a lack of culture systems for many viruses in this family. Feline calicivirus (FCV), a member of the Vesivirus genus, provides a tractable model, since it may be propagated in cell culture. Feline junctional adhesion molecule 1 (fJAM-1) was recently identified as a functional receptor for FCV. We have analyzed the structure of this virus-receptor complex by cryo-electron microscopy and three-dimensional image reconstruction, combined with fitting of homology modeled high-resolution coordinates. We show that domain 1 of fJAM-1 binds to the outer face of the P2 domain of the FCV capsid protein VP1, inducing conformational changes in the viral capsid. This study provides the first structural view of a native calicivirus-protein receptor complex and insights into the mechanisms of virus attachment and uncoating.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Caliciviridae / metabolism*
  • Calicivirus, Feline / metabolism*
  • Capsid / chemistry*
  • Cats
  • Cell Adhesion
  • Cryoelectron Microscopy
  • Epitopes / chemistry
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Kidney / virology
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Polysaccharides / chemistry
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary

Substances

  • Epitopes
  • Polysaccharides