A prion-like trigger of antiviral signaling.

Ye, Junqiang; Maniatis, Tom · Cell · 2011

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

The MAVS protein plays a critical role in the assembly of an antiviral signaling complex on mitochondrial membranes. Hou et al. (2011) now report that virus infection induces a conformational change in MAVS, leading to the prion-like formation of functional self-aggregates that provide a sensitive trigger for antiviral signaling.