Absence of E protein arrests transmissible gastroenteritis coronavirus maturation in the secretory pathway

作者：Ortego Javier; Ceriani Juan E; Patino Cristina; Plana Juan; Enjuanes Luis^*

来源：Virology, 2007, 368(2): 296-308.

DOI：10.1016/j.virol.2007.05.032

• coronavirus
• nidovirus
• e protein
• TGEV
• virus maturation

A recombinant transmissible gastroenteritis coronavirus (rTGEV) in which E gene was deleted (rTGEV-Delta E) has been engineered. This deletion mutant only grows in cells expressing E protein (E cells) indicating that E was an essential gene for TGEV replication. Electron microscopy studies of rTGEV-AE infected BHK-pAPN-E- cells showed that only immature intracellular virions were assembled. These virions were non-infectious and not secreted to the extracellular medium in BHK-pAPN-E- cells. RNA and protein composition analysis by RNase-gold and immunoelectron microscopy showed that rTGEV-AE virions contained RNA and also all the structural TGEV proteins, except the deleted E protein. Nevertheless, full virion maturation was blocked. Studies of the rTGEV-AE subcellular localization by confocal and immunoelectron microscopy in infected E- cells showed that in the absence of E protein virus trafficking was arrested in the interinediate compartment. Therefore, the absence of E protein in TGEV resulted in two actions, a blockade of virus trafficking in the membranes of the secretory pathway, and prevention of full virus maturation.

• 出版日期2007-11-25