Conformational Plasticity of Hepatitis B Core Protein Spikes Promotes Peptide Binding Independent of the Secretion Phenotype

Hepatitis B virus is a major human pathogen, which forms enveloped virus particles. During viral maturation, membrane-bound hepatitis B surface proteins package hepatitis B core protein capsids. This process is intercepted by certain peptides with an “LLGRMKG” motif that binds to the capsids at the...

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Main Authors: Cihan Makbul, Vladimir Khayenko, Hans Michael Maric, Bettina Böttcher
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-04-01
Series:Microorganisms
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/5/956
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author Cihan Makbul
Vladimir Khayenko
Hans Michael Maric
Bettina Böttcher
author_facet Cihan Makbul
Vladimir Khayenko
Hans Michael Maric
Bettina Böttcher
author_sort Cihan Makbul
collection DOAJ
description Hepatitis B virus is a major human pathogen, which forms enveloped virus particles. During viral maturation, membrane-bound hepatitis B surface proteins package hepatitis B core protein capsids. This process is intercepted by certain peptides with an “LLGRMKG” motif that binds to the capsids at the tips of dimeric spikes. With microcalorimetry, electron cryo microscopy and peptide microarray-based screens, we have characterized the structural and thermodynamic properties of peptide binding to hepatitis B core protein capsids with different secretion phenotypes. The peptide “GSLLGRMKGA” binds weakly to hepatitis B core protein capsids and mutant capsids with a premature (F97L) or low-secretion phenotype (L60V and P5T). With electron cryo microscopy, we provide novel structures for L60V and P5T and demonstrate that binding occurs at the tips of the spikes at the dimer interface, splaying the helices apart independent of the secretion phenotype. Peptide array screening identifies “SLLGRM” as the core binding motif. This shortened motif binds only to one of the two spikes in the asymmetric unit of the capsid and induces a much smaller conformational change. Altogether, these comprehensive studies suggest that the tips of the spikes act as an autonomous binding platform that is unaffected by mutations that affect secretion phenotypes.
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spelling doaj.art-c6c5a8dc5d744b0b92b006e630cd46062023-11-21T17:44:49ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072021-04-019595610.3390/microorganisms9050956Conformational Plasticity of Hepatitis B Core Protein Spikes Promotes Peptide Binding Independent of the Secretion PhenotypeCihan Makbul0Vladimir Khayenko1Hans Michael Maric2Bettina Böttcher3Rudolf Virchow Center, Center for Integrative and Translational Bioimaging, University of Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, GermanyRudolf Virchow Center, Center for Integrative and Translational Bioimaging, University of Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, GermanyRudolf Virchow Center, Center for Integrative and Translational Bioimaging, University of Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, GermanyRudolf Virchow Center, Center for Integrative and Translational Bioimaging, University of Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, GermanyHepatitis B virus is a major human pathogen, which forms enveloped virus particles. During viral maturation, membrane-bound hepatitis B surface proteins package hepatitis B core protein capsids. This process is intercepted by certain peptides with an “LLGRMKG” motif that binds to the capsids at the tips of dimeric spikes. With microcalorimetry, electron cryo microscopy and peptide microarray-based screens, we have characterized the structural and thermodynamic properties of peptide binding to hepatitis B core protein capsids with different secretion phenotypes. The peptide “GSLLGRMKGA” binds weakly to hepatitis B core protein capsids and mutant capsids with a premature (F97L) or low-secretion phenotype (L60V and P5T). With electron cryo microscopy, we provide novel structures for L60V and P5T and demonstrate that binding occurs at the tips of the spikes at the dimer interface, splaying the helices apart independent of the secretion phenotype. Peptide array screening identifies “SLLGRM” as the core binding motif. This shortened motif binds only to one of the two spikes in the asymmetric unit of the capsid and induces a much smaller conformational change. Altogether, these comprehensive studies suggest that the tips of the spikes act as an autonomous binding platform that is unaffected by mutations that affect secretion phenotypes.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/5/956hepatitis B core proteinhepatitis B viruspeptide inhibitor of envelopmentisothermal titration calorimetryelectron cryo microscopylow-secretion phenotype mutants
spellingShingle Cihan Makbul
Vladimir Khayenko
Hans Michael Maric
Bettina Böttcher
Conformational Plasticity of Hepatitis B Core Protein Spikes Promotes Peptide Binding Independent of the Secretion Phenotype
Microorganisms
hepatitis B core protein
hepatitis B virus
peptide inhibitor of envelopment
isothermal titration calorimetry
electron cryo microscopy
low-secretion phenotype mutants
title Conformational Plasticity of Hepatitis B Core Protein Spikes Promotes Peptide Binding Independent of the Secretion Phenotype
title_full Conformational Plasticity of Hepatitis B Core Protein Spikes Promotes Peptide Binding Independent of the Secretion Phenotype
title_fullStr Conformational Plasticity of Hepatitis B Core Protein Spikes Promotes Peptide Binding Independent of the Secretion Phenotype
title_full_unstemmed Conformational Plasticity of Hepatitis B Core Protein Spikes Promotes Peptide Binding Independent of the Secretion Phenotype
title_short Conformational Plasticity of Hepatitis B Core Protein Spikes Promotes Peptide Binding Independent of the Secretion Phenotype
title_sort conformational plasticity of hepatitis b core protein spikes promotes peptide binding independent of the secretion phenotype
topic hepatitis B core protein
hepatitis B virus
peptide inhibitor of envelopment
isothermal titration calorimetry
electron cryo microscopy
low-secretion phenotype mutants
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/5/956
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