Flavivirus envelope protein mutations affecting virion disassembly

摘要

Mutations in the central monomer contact interface of the flavivirus envelope protein which modulate the infectivity of the flavivirus are made. The mutations decrease the ability of the envelope dimer protein to dissociate.

主权项

1. A flavivirus envelope monomer protein capable of forming a dimer along a central monomer contact interface, said flavivirus envelope protein having a central monomer contact interface sequence corresponding to amino acids 256 to 260 of the West Nile virus envelope protein, and wherein said flavivirus envelope protein has a mutation in the central monomer contact interface sequence relative to a wild type sequence selected from the group consisting of GSQEG (SEQ ID NO: 7), GNQEG (SEQ ID NO: 8), GDQTG (SEQ ID NO: 9), and GDQTA (SEQ ID NO: 10), wherein the mutation does not result in a sequence of RSQEG (SEQ ID NO: 1), and wherein said mutation results in formation of two salt bridges at the central monomer contact interface, which decreases dissociation of the dimer relative to the wild type sequence.