Mechanism of Structural Tuning of the Hepatitis C Virus Human Cellular Receptor CD81 Large Extracellular Loop

Structure. 2017 Jan 3;25(1):53-65. doi: 10.1016/j.str.2016.11.003. Epub 2016 Dec 1.

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) enters into human hepatocytes via tetraspanin hCD81. HCV glycoprotein E2 recognizes the "head" subdomain of the large extracellular loop (LEL) of CD81 (hCD81LEL), but the precise mechanism of virus cell attachment and entry remains elusive. Here, by combining the structural analysis of a conspicuous number of crystallized CD81LEL molecules with molecular dynamics simulations, we show that the conformational plasticity of the hCD81LEL head subdomain is a molecular property of the receptor. The observed closed, intermediate, and open conformations of the head subdomain provide distinct binding platforms. Simulations at pH 7.4 and 4.0 indicate that this dynamism is pH modulated. The crystallized double conformation of the disulfide bridge C157-C175 at the base of the head subdomain identifies this bond as the molecular zipper of the plasticity of hCD81LEL. We propose that this conformational dependence of hCD81LEL, which is finely tuned by pH and redox conditions, enables the virus-receptor interactions to diversely re-engage at endosomal conditions.

Keywords: X-ray crystallography; hepatitis C virus; molecular dynamics; receptor structure-function; tetraspanin CD81; virus entry.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Hepacivirus / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Dynamics Simulation
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Protein Conformation
  • Tetraspanin 28 / chemistry*
  • Tetraspanin 28 / metabolism*
  • Viral Envelope Proteins / metabolism*
  • Virus Attachment
  • Virus Internalization

Substances

  • CD81 protein, human
  • Tetraspanin 28
  • Viral Envelope Proteins
  • glycoprotein E2, Hepatitis C virus