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Structure of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus in complex with the LDLRAD3 receptor.

Katherine BasoreHongming MaNatasha M KafaiSamantha MackinArthur S KimChristopher A NelsonMichael S. DiamondDaved H Fremont
Published in: Nature (2021)
LDLRAD3 is a recently defined attachment and entry receptor for Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV)1, a New World alphavirus that causes severe neurological disease in humans. Here we present near-atomic-resolution cryo-electron microscopy reconstructions of VEEV virus-like particles alone and in a complex with the ectodomains of LDLRAD3. Domain 1 of LDLRAD3 is a low-density lipoprotein receptor type-A module that binds to VEEV by wedging into a cleft created by two adjacent E2-E1 heterodimers in one trimeric spike, and engages domains A and B of E2 and the fusion loop in E1. Atomic modelling of this interface is supported by mutagenesis and anti-VEEV antibody binding competition assays. Notably, VEEV engages LDLRAD3 in a manner that is similar to the way that arthritogenic alphaviruses bind to the structurally unrelated MXRA8 receptor, but with a much smaller interface. These studies further elucidate the structural basis of alphavirus-receptor interactions, which could inform the development of therapies to mitigate infection and disease against multiple members of this family.
Keyphrases
  • electron microscopy
  • binding protein
  • low density lipoprotein
  • crispr cas
  • early onset
  • transcription factor
  • high resolution
  • magnetic resonance
  • cord blood