Abstract
Although eradicated from nature more than two decades ago, the threat of smallpox has reemerged because of concerns over its use as a biological weapon. We present the structure of the poxvirus L1 protein, a molecule that is conserved throughout the poxvirus family and is nearly identical in vaccinia virus and in variola virus, which causes smallpox. L1 is a myristoylated envelope protein that is a potent target for neutralizing antibodies and an important component of current experimental vaccines. The L1 structure reveals a hydrophobic cavity located adjacent to its N terminus. The cavity would be capable of shielding the myristate moiety, which is essential for virion assembly. The structure of L1 is a step in the elucidation of molecular mechanisms common to all poxviruses that may stimulate the design of safer vaccines and new antipoxvirus drugs.
Publication types
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Comparative Study
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Amino Acid Sequence
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Animals
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Antibodies, Viral
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Base Sequence
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Crystallography, X-Ray
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DNA, Viral / genetics
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DNA-Binding Proteins / chemistry
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DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
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DNA-Binding Proteins / immunology
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Disulfides / chemistry
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Humans
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Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
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Models, Molecular
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Myristic Acids / chemistry
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Neutralization Tests
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Poxviridae / chemistry*
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Poxviridae / genetics
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Poxviridae / immunology
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Protein Conformation
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Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
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Smallpox Vaccine / chemistry
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Smallpox Vaccine / genetics
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Smallpox Vaccine / immunology
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Static Electricity
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Vaccinia virus / chemistry
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Vaccinia virus / genetics
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Vaccinia virus / immunology
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Variola virus / chemistry
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Variola virus / genetics
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Variola virus / immunology
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Viral Core Proteins / chemistry
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Viral Core Proteins / genetics
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Viral Core Proteins / immunology
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Viral Envelope Proteins / chemistry*
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Viral Envelope Proteins / genetics
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Viral Envelope Proteins / immunology
Substances
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Antibodies, Viral
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DNA, Viral
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DNA-Binding Proteins
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Disulfides
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I1 protein, vaccinia virus
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Myristic Acids
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Smallpox Vaccine
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Viral Core Proteins
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Viral Envelope Proteins