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Membrane permeabilization of the African horse sickness virus VP5 protein is mediated by two N-terminal amphipathic α-helices

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Abstract

The VP5 outer capsid protein of African horse sickness virus (AHSV) is cytotoxic when expressed in Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf-9) cells. Secondary structure analysis of the VP5 amino acid sequence of AHSV-9 identified two N-terminal amphipathic α-helices within the first 43 amino acids. Baculovirus expression of N- and C-terminal truncated VP5 proteins in Sf-9 cells indicated that the N-terminal 43 amino acids correlated with low levels of protein expression and with increased membrane permeabilization and cytotoxicity. Exogenous addition of chemically synthesized VP5 peptides indicated that both N-terminal amphipathic α-helices are required for membrane permeabilization of Sf-9 cells. These findings suggest that AHSV VP5 is a membrane-destabilizing protein.

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Acknowledgments

This work was funded by the National Research Foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa

    Liesel Stassen & Jacques Theron

  2. Department of Genetics, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa

    Henk Huismans

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  1. Liesel Stassen
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  2. Henk Huismans
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Correspondence to Jacques Theron.

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Stassen, L., Huismans, H. & Theron, J. Membrane permeabilization of the African horse sickness virus VP5 protein is mediated by two N-terminal amphipathic α-helices. Arch Virol 156, 711–715 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-010-0897-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-010-0897-4

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