Structure of a murine leukemia virus receptor-binding glycoprotein at 2.0 angstrom resolution.

Fass, D; Davey, R A; Hamson, C A; Kim, P S; Cunningham, J M; Berger, J M · Science · 1997

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

An essential step in retrovirus infection is the binding of the virus to its receptor on a target cell. The structure of the receptor-binding domain of the envelope glycoprotein from Friend murine leukemia virus was determined to 2.0 angstrom resolution by x-ray crystallography. The core of the domain is an antiparallel beta sandwich, with two interstrand loops forming a helical subdomain atop the sandwich. The residues in the helical region, but not in the beta sandwich, are highly variable among mammalian C-type retroviruses with distinct tropisms, indicating that the helical subdomain determines the receptor specificity of the virus.

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