Norwalk Virus Minor Capsid Protein VP2 Associates within the VP1 Shell Domain

J Virol. 2013 May;87(9):4818-25. doi: 10.1128/JVI.03508-12. Epub 2013 Feb 13.

Abstract

The major capsid protein of norovirus VP1 assembles to form an icosahedral viral particle. Despite evidence that the Norwalk virus (NV) minor structural protein VP2 is present in infectious virions, the available crystallographic and electron cryomicroscopy structures of NV have not revealed the location of VP2. In this study, we determined that VP1 associates with VP2 at the interior surface of the capsid, specifically with the shell (S) domain of VP1. We mapped the interaction site to amino acid 52 of VP1, an isoleucine located within a sequence motif IDPWI in the S domain that is highly conserved across norovirus genogroups. Mutation of this isoleucine abrogated VP2 incorporation into virus-like particles without affecting the ability for VP1 to dimerize and form particles. The highly basic nature of VP2 and its location interior to the viral particle are consistent with its potential role in assisting capsid assembly and genome encapsidation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Motifs
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Capsid Proteins / chemistry
  • Capsid Proteins / genetics
  • Capsid Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Line
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Viral
  • Humans
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Norwalk virus / chemistry
  • Norwalk virus / genetics
  • Norwalk virus / metabolism*
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Sequence Alignment

Substances

  • Capsid Proteins
  • Norwalk virus capsid