The medium (M) genome segment of hantaviruses (family Bunyaviridae) encodes the two virion glycoproteins, Gn and Gc (also known as G1 and G2, respectively), as a polyprotein precursor [1,2,3]. Gn and Gc forms homotetramers (spikes) at the surface of ...
The medium (M) genome segment of hantaviruses (family Bunyaviridae) encodes the two virion glycoproteins, Gn and Gc (also known as G1 and G2, respectively), as a polyprotein precursor [1,2,3]. Gn and Gc forms homotetramers (spikes) at the surface of the virion which attach the virion to host cell receptors including integrin beta3/ITGB3 induce internalisation, predominantly through clathrin-dependent endocytosis [3,4]. This entry represents the N-terminal two-thirds of the Gn glycoprotein ectodomain, denoted as 'head' (Gn-H) [2] which interacts with Gc ectodomain. Release of Gn-H at acid pH induces a further conformational change of the Gc domain II tip which exposes non-polar side chains for insertion into the endosomal membrane [2].