Structures of Ebola and Reston Virus VP35 Oligomerization Domains and Comparative Biophysical Characterization in All Ebolavirus Species.
Zinzula, L., Nagy, I., Orsini, M., Weyher-Stingl, E., Bracher, A., Baumeister, W.(2019) Structure 27: 39-54.e6
- PubMed: 30482729 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.str.2018.09.009
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
6GBO, 6GBP, 6GBQ, 6GBR - PubMed Abstract: 
The multifunctional virion protein 35 (VP35) of ebolaviruses is a critical determinant of virulence and pathogenesis indispensable for viral replication and host innate immune evasion. Essential for VP35 function is homo-oligomerization via a coiled-coil motif. Here we report crystal structures of VP35 oligomerization domains from the prototypic Ebola virus (EBOV) and the non-pathogenic Reston virus (RESTV), together with a comparative biophysical characterization of the domains from all known species of the Ebolavirus genus. EBOV and RESTV VP35 oligomerization domains form bipartite parallel helix bundles with a canonical coiled coil in the N-terminal half and increased plasticity in the highly conserved C-terminal half. The domain assembles into trimers and tetramers in EBOV, whereas it exclusively forms tetramers in all other ebolavirus species. Substitution of coiled-coil leucine residues critical for immune antagonism leads to aberrant oligomerization. A conserved arginine involved in inter-chain salt bridges stabilizes the VP35 oligomerization domain and modulates between coiled-coil oligomeric states.
Organizational Affiliation: 
The Max-Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Department of Molecular Structural Biology, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152 Martinsried, Germany.