Biological and Structural Characterization of a Host-Adapting Amino Acid in Influenza Virus

• Published in: PLoS pathogens Vol. 6; no. 8; p. e1001034
• Main Authors: Yamada, Shinya, Hatta, Masato, Staker, Bart L., Watanabe, Shinji, Imai, Masaki, Shinya, Kyoko, Sakai-Tagawa, Yuko, Ito, Mutsumi, Ozawa, Makoto, Watanabe, Tokiko, Sakabe, Saori, Li, Chengjun, Kim, Jin Hyun, Myler, Peter J., Phan, Isabelle, Raymond, Amy, Smith, Eric, Stacy, Robin, Nidom, Chairul A., Lank, Simon M., Wiseman, Roger W., Bimber, Benjamin N., O'Connor, David H., Neumann, Gabriele, Stewart, Lance J., Kawaoka, Yoshihiro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 01.08.2010; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Amino acids; Amino Acids - chemistry; Animals; Birds; Crystallography, X-Ray; Genetic aspects; Host-virus relationships; Humans; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype - genetics; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype - pathogenicity; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype - physiology; Influenza virus; Influenza viruses; Pandemics; Physiological aspects; Protein Structure, Quaternary; Proteins; Viral Proteins - chemistry; Viral Proteins - genetics; Virology; Virology/Animal Models of Infection; Virology/Mechanisms of Resistance and Susceptibility, including Host Genetics; Virology/Viral and Gene Regulation; Virology/Virulence Factors and Mechanisms; Virulence - genetics; Virus Replication

Two amino acids (lysine at position 627 or asparagine at position 701) in the polymerase subunit PB2 protein are considered critical for the adaptation of avian influenza A viruses to mammals. However, the recently emerged pandemic H1N1 viruses lack these amino acids. Here, we report that a basic am...