Structure of the measles virus hemagglutinin bound to the CD46 receptor
Santiago, C., Celma, M.L., Stehle, T., Casasnovas, J.M.(2010) Nat Struct Mol Biol 17: 124-129
- PubMed: 20010840 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nsmb.1726
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
3INB - PubMed Abstract: 
The highly contagious measles virus infects millions of individuals worldwide, causing serious disease in children of developing countries. Infection is initiated by attachment of the measles virus hemagglutinin (MV-H), a glycoprotein anchored to the virus envelope, to the host cell receptors CD46 or signaling lymphocyte activation molecule (SLAM). Here we report the crystal structure of MV-H in complex with a CD46 protein spanning the two N-terminal domains. A unique groove at the side of the MV-H beta-propeller domain, which is absent in homologous paramyxovirus attachment proteins, engages residues in both CD46 domains. Key contacts involve a protruding loop in the N-terminal CD46 domain that carries two sequential proline residues (PP motif) and penetrates deeply into a hydrophobic socket in MV-H. We identify a similar PP motif in SLAM, defining a common measles virus recognition epitope in the CD46 and SLAM receptor proteins.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Campus Universidad Autónoma, Madrid, Spain.