Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Myristic acid is coupled to a structural protein of polyoma virus and SV40

  • Letter
  • Published:

From Nature

View current issue Submit your manuscript

Abstract

In the lytic cycle of papova viruses, both uncoating of the viral genome after infection and assembly of functional virions take place in the cell nucleus1,2. The mechanisms by which newly internalized virions are targeted to the nucleus and viral DNA encapsid-ated into particles are poorly understood. Although the major capsid protein VP1 is involved in endocytosis3, and largely defines virion structure4, the functions of the minor proteins VP2 and VP3 have remained obscure. Here we show that VP2 from both polyoma virus and simian virus 40 (SV40) is covalently linked to myristic acid; this is the first report of a myristylated protein in the nucleus and of a fatty acid being important in the structure of a non-enveloped virus. We consider the implications of this unusual modification on encapsidation and suggest that VP2 may be a scaffolding protein for virion assembly.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Mackay, R. L. & Consigli, R. A. J. Virol. 19, 620–636 (1976).

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  2. Tooze, J. DNA Tumor Viruses (Cold-Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York, 1981).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Consigli, R. A., Griffith, G. R., Marriott, S. J. & Ludlow, J. W. in Virus Attachment and Entry Into Cells (eds Crowell, R. L. & Lonberg-Holm, K.) 44–53 (American Society for Microbiology Washington, DC, 1986).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Rayment, I., Baker, T. S., Caspar, D. L. D. & Murakami, W. T. Nature 295, 110–115 (1982).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Dilworth, S. M. et al. EMBO J. 5, 491–499 (1986).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Hewick, R. M., Fried, M. & Waterfield, M. D. Virology 66, 408–419 (1975).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Gibson, W. Virology 62, 319–336 (1974).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Staufenbiel, M. & Lazarides, E. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 83, 318–322 (1986).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Magee, A. I. et al. Biochim. biophys. Acta. 798, 156–166 (1984).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Magee, A. I. & Courtneidge, S. A. EMBO J. 4, 1137–1144 (1985).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Schultz, A. & Oroszlan, S. Virology 133, 431–437 (1984).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Carr, S. A. et al. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 79, 6128–6131 (1982).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Aitken, A. et al. FEBS Lett. 150, 314–318 (1982).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Henderson, L. E., Krutzsch, H. C. & Oroszlan, S. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 80, 339–343 (1983).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Ozols, J., Carr, S. A. & Strittmatter, P. J. biol. Chem. 259, 13349–13354 (1984).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Schultz, A. M. et al. Science 227, 427–429 (1985).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Hewick, R. M., Mellor, A., Smith, A. E. & Waterfield, M. D. J. Virol. 33, 631–636 (1980).

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  18. Hunter, T. & Gibson, W. J. Virol. 28, 240–253 (1978).

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  19. Kamps, M. P., Buss, J. E. & Sefton, B. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 82, 4625–4628 (1985).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Rein, A. et al. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 83, 7246–7250 (1986).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Manger, R., Rasheed, S. & Rohrschneider, L. J. Virol. 59, 66–72 (1986).

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  22. Capco, D., Wan, K. M. & Penman, S. Cell 29, 847–858 (1982).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Olson, E. N. & Spizz, G. J. biol. Chem. 261, 2458–2466 (1986).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Marchildon, G. A., Casnellie, J. E., Walsh, K. A. & Krebs, E. G. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 81, 7679–7682 (1984).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Buss, J. E., Kamps, M. P., Gould, K. & Sefton, B. M. J. Virol. 58, 468–474 (1986).

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  26. Lin, W., Hata, T. & Kasarnatsu, H. J. Virol. 50, 363–371 (1984).

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  27. Streckert, H-J. et al. J. cell Biochem. 31, 277–287 (1986).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Cole, C. N. et al. J. Virol. 24, 277–294 (1977).

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  29. Salunke, D. M., Caspar, D. L. D. & Garcea, R. L. Cell 46, 895–904 (1986).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Garcea, R. L., Ballmer-Hofer, K. & Benjarnin, T. L. J. Virol. 54, 311–316 (1985).

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  31. Smith, A. E. et al. Proc. R. Soc. B226, 43–58 (1985).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  32. Fiers, W. et al. Nature 273, 113–120 (1978).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Llopis, R. & Stark, G. R. J. Virol. 38, 91–103 (1981).

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  34. Seif, I., Khoury, G. & Dhar, R. Cell 18, 963–977 (1979).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Smolar, N. & Griffin, B. E. J. Virol. 38, 958–967 (1981).

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  36. Dilworth, S. M. & Griffin, B. E. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. 79, 1059–1063 (1982).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Turler, H. & Beard, P. in Virology, a Practical Approach (ed. Mahy, B.) 169–192 (1RL Press, Oxford, 1985).

    Google Scholar 

  38. McMillen, J., Center, M. S. & Consigli, R. A. J. Virol. 17, 127–131 (1976).

    CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  39. Arrand, J. R. et al. J. Virol. 33, 606–618 (1980).

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  40. Frisque, R. J., Brearn, G. L. & Cannella, M. T. J. Virol. 51, 458–469 (1984).

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  41. Delmas, V., Bastien, C., Scherneck, S. & Feunteun EMBO J. 4, 1279–1286 (1985).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Pawlita, M., Clad, A. & zurHausen, H. Virology 143, 196–211 (1985).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Brugge, J. S. & Erikson, R. L. Nature 269, 346–348 (1977).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Virology, RPMS, Hammersmith Hospital, London, W12 0HS, UK

    Charles H. Streuli & Beverly E. Griffin

Authors
  1. Charles H. Streuli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Beverly E. Griffin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Streuli, C., Griffin, B. Myristic acid is coupled to a structural protein of polyoma virus and SV40. Nature 326, 619–622 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1038/326619a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/326619a0

  • Springer Nature Limited

This article is cited by

Search

Navigation