SARS coronavirus E protein forms cation-selective ion channels.

Lauren Wilson; Carolyn McKinlay; Peter Gage; Gary Ewart

doi:10.1016/j.virol.2004.09.033

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SARS coronavirus E protein forms cation-selective ion channels.

Lauren Wilson·Carolyn McKinlay·Peter Gage·Gary Ewart

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Abstract

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) is caused by a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV). Coronaviruses including SARS-CoV encode an envelope (E) protein, a small, hydrophobic membrane protein. We report that, in planar lipid bilayers, synthetic peptides corresponding to the SARS-CoV E protein forms ion channels that are more permeable to monovalent cations than to monovalent anions. Affinity-purified polyclonal antibodies recognizing the N-terminal 19 residues of SARS-CoV E protein were used to establish the specificity of channel formation by inhibiting the ion currents generated in the presence of the E protein peptides.

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Amino Acid Sequence Ion Channels Lipid Bilayers Membrane Potentials Molecular Sequence Data Peptide Fragments Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus Viral Envelope Proteins Journal Article

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Lauren Wilson, Carolyn McKinlay, Peter Gage, Gary Ewart. 2004-12-05. SARS coronavirus E protein forms cation-selective ion channels.. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.virol.2004.09.033

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