The signal peptide of the ebolavirus glycoprotein influences interaction with the cellular lectins DC-SIGN and DC-SIGNR

J Virol. 2006 Jul;80(13):6305-17. doi: 10.1128/JVI.02545-05.

Abstract

The C-type lectins DC-SIGN and DC-SIGNR (collectively referred to as DC-SIGN/R) bind to the ebolavirus glycoprotein (EBOV-GP) and augment viral infectivity. DC-SIGN/R strongly enhance infection driven by the GP of EBOV subspecies. Zaire (ZEBOV) but have a much less pronounced effect on infection mediated by the GP of EBOV subspecies. Sudan (SEBOV). For this study, we analyzed the determinants of the differential DC-SIGN/R interactions with ZEBOV- and SEBOV-GP. The efficiency of DC-SIGN engagement by ZEBOV-GP was dependent on the rate of GP incorporation into lentiviral particles, while appreciable virion incorporation of SEBOV-GP did not allow robust DC-SIGN/R usage. Forced incorporation of high-mannose carbohydrates into SEBOV-GP augmented the engagement of DC-SIGN/R to the levels observed with ZEBOV-GP, indicating that appropriate glycosylation of SEBOV-GP is sufficient for efficient DC-SIGN/R usage. However, neither signals for N-linked glycosylation unique to SEBOV- or ZEBOV-GP nor the highly variable and heavily glycosylated mucin-like domain modulated the interaction with DC-SIGN/R. In contrast, analysis of chimeric GPs identified the signal peptide as a determinant of DC-SIGN/R engagement. Thus, ZEBOV- but not SEBOV-GP was shown to harbor high-mannose carbohydrates, and GP modification with these glycans was controlled by the signal peptide. These results suggest that the signal peptide governs EBOV-GP interactions with DC-SIGN/R by modulating the incorporation of high-mannose carbohydrates into EBOV-GP. In summary, we identified the level of GP incorporation into virions and signal peptide-controlled glycosylation of GP as determinants of attachment factor engagement.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / metabolism*
  • Cell Line
  • Ebolavirus / genetics
  • Ebolavirus / metabolism*
  • Glycosylation
  • Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / genetics
  • Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Lectins, C-Type / metabolism*
  • Lentivirus
  • Mannose / metabolism
  • Mucins / genetics
  • Mucins / metabolism
  • Mutant Chimeric Proteins / genetics
  • Mutant Chimeric Proteins / metabolism
  • Protein Binding / physiology
  • Protein Modification, Translational / physiology*
  • Protein Sorting Signals / physiology*
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary / physiology
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / metabolism*
  • Viral Envelope Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Envelope Proteins / metabolism*
  • Virion / genetics
  • Virion / metabolism
  • Virus Assembly / physiology

Substances

  • CLEC4M protein, human
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules
  • DC-specific ICAM-3 grabbing nonintegrin
  • Lectins, C-Type
  • Mucins
  • Mutant Chimeric Proteins
  • Protein Sorting Signals
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Viral Envelope Proteins
  • envelope glycoprotein, Ebola virus
  • Mannose