Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-7610, USA.
Biological Physics Structure and Design Program, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-7610, USA.
Viruses. 2020 Apr 8;12(4):413. doi: 10.3390/v12040413.
Protein-mediated membrane fusion is a highly regulated biological process essential for cellular and organismal functions and infection by enveloped viruses. During viral entry the membrane fusion reaction is catalyzed by specialized protein machinery on the viral surface. These viral fusion proteins undergo a series of dramatic structural changes during membrane fusion where they engage, remodel, and ultimately fuse with the host membrane. The structural and dynamic nature of these conformational changes and their impact on the membranes have long-eluded characterization. Recent advances in structural and biophysical methodologies have enabled researchers to directly observe viral fusion proteins as they carry out their functions during membrane fusion. Here we review the structure and function of type I viral fusion proteins and mechanisms of protein-mediated membrane fusion. We highlight how recent technological advances and new biophysical approaches are providing unprecedented new insight into the membrane fusion reaction.
蛋白介导的膜融合是一种高度调控的生物学过程，对于细胞和生物机体功能以及包膜病毒的感染至关重要。在病毒进入过程中，病毒表面的特殊蛋白机器催化膜融合反应。在膜融合过程中，这些病毒融合蛋白经历一系列剧烈的结构变化，在此过程中，它们与宿主膜结合、重塑并最终融合。这些构象变化的结构和动态性质及其对膜的影响长期以来一直难以描述。结构和生物物理方法学的最新进展使研究人员能够在膜融合过程中直接观察病毒融合蛋白的功能。在这里，我们回顾了 I 型病毒融合蛋白的结构和功能以及蛋白介导的膜融合机制。我们强调了最近的技术进步和新的生物物理方法如何为膜融合反应提供前所未有的新见解。
