SNAP output for PDB entry 3l25 [SNAP web server]

PDB-id

3l25; SNAP-derived features in text and JSON formats; DNAproDB

Class

RNA binding protein-RNA

Method

X-ray (2.0 Å)

Summary

Crystal structure of zaire ebola vp35 interferon inhibitory domain bound to 8 bp dsrna

Reference

Leung DW, Prins KC, Borek DM, Farahbakhsh M, Tufariello JM, Ramanan P, Nix JC, Helgeson LA, Otwinowski Z, Honzatko RB, Basler CF, Amarasinghe GK (2010): "Structural basis for dsRNA recognition and interferon antagonism by Ebola VP35." Nat.Struct.Mol.Biol., 17, 165-172. doi: 10.1038/nsmb.1765.

Abstract

Ebola viral protein 35 (VP35), encoded by the highly pathogenic Ebola virus, facilitates host immune evasion by antagonizing antiviral signaling pathways, including those initiated by RIG-I-like receptors. Here we report the crystal structure of the Ebola VP35 interferon inhibitory domain (IID) bound to short double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), which together with in vivo results reveals how VP35-dsRNA interactions contribute to immune evasion. Conserved basic residues in VP35 IID recognize the dsRNA backbone, whereas the dsRNA blunt ends are 'end-capped' by a pocket of hydrophobic residues that mimic RIG-I-like receptor recognition of blunt-end dsRNA. Residues critical for RNA binding are also important for interferon inhibition in vivo but not for viral polymerase cofactor function of VP35. These results suggest that simultaneous recognition of dsRNA backbone and blunt ends provides a mechanism by which Ebola VP35 antagonizes host dsRNA sensors and immune responses.