Structure
Volume 3, Issue 7, July 1995, Pages 653-667
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Research Article
The structure of coxsackievirus B3 at 3.5 å resolution

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0969-2126(01)00201-5Get rights and content
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Abstract

Background: Group B coxsackieviruses (CVBs) are etiologic agents of a number of human diseases that range in severity from asymptomatic to lethal infections. They are small, single-stranded RNA icosahedral viruses that belong to the enterovirus genus of the picornavirus family. Structural studies were initiated in light of the information available on the cellular receptors for this virus and to assist in the design of antiviral capsid-binding compounds for the CVBs.

Results The structure of coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) has been solved to a resolution of 3.5 å. The β-sandwich structure of the viral capsid proteins VP1, VP2 and VP3 is conserved between CVB3 and other picornaviruses. Structural differences between CVB3 and other enteroviruses and rhinoviruses are located primarily on the viral surface. The hydrophobic pocket of the VP1 β-sandwich is occupied by a pocket factor, modeled as a C16 fatty acid. An additional study has shown that the pocket factor can be displaced by an antiviral compound. Myristate was observed covalently linked to the N terminus of VP4. Density consistent with the presence of ions was observed on the icosahedral threefold and fivefold axes.

Conclusion The canyon and twofold depression, major surface depressions, are predicted to be the primary and secondary receptor-binding sites on CVB3, respectively. Neutralizing immunogenic sites are predicted to lie on the extreme surfaces of the capsid at sites that lack amino acid sequence conservation among the CVBs. The ions located on the icosahedral threefold and fivefold axes together with the pocket factor may contribute to the pH stability of the coxsackieviruses.

Keywords

coxsackievirus B3
enterovirus
viral myocarditis

Cited by (0)

Jodi K Muckelbauer, Marcia Kremer, Iwona Minor and Michael G Rossmann (corresponding author), Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, 1392 Lilly Hall of Life Science, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.

Guy Diana, James Groarke and Daniel C Pevear, ViroPharma, Inc., 1250 S. Collegeville Road, Collegeville, PA 19426, USA.

Frank J Dutko, Department of Virology, Sterling Winthrop Pharmaceuticals Research Division, 1250 S. Collegeville Road, Collegeville, PA 19426, USA.