Download MendeleyThe Crystal Structure of Orf-9B, a Lipid Binding Protein from the Sars Coronavirus.
Meier, C., Aricescu, A.R., Assenberg, R., Aplin, R.T., Gilbert, R.J.C., Grimes, J.M., Stuart, D.I.(2006) Structure 14: 1157
- PubMed: 16843897
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.str.2006.05.012
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:
2CME - PubMed Abstract:
To achieve the greatest output from their limited genomes, viruses frequently make use of alternative open reading frames, in which translation is initiated from a start codon within an existing gene and, being out of frame, gives rise to a distinct protein product. These alternative protein products are, as yet, poorly characterized structurally. Here we report the crystal structure of ORF-9b, an alternative open reading frame within the nucleocapsid (N) gene from the SARS coronavirus. The protein has a novel fold, a dimeric tent-like beta structure with an amphipathic surface, and a central hydrophobic cavity that binds lipid molecules. This cavity is likely to be involved in membrane attachment and, in mammalian cells, ORF-9b associates with intracellular vesicles, consistent with a role in the assembly of the virion. Analysis of ORF-9b and other overlapping genes suggests that they provide snapshots of the early evolution of novel protein folds.
Organizational Affiliation:
Division of Structural Biology, The Henry Wellcome Building for Genomic Medicine, Oxford University, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7BN, United Kingdom.
