Yuan 2006 Mol Cells

Yuan X, Shan Y, Yao Z, Li J, Zhao Z, Chen J, Cong Y (2006) Mitochondrial location of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 3b protein. Mol Cells 21:186–91.

» PMID: 16682811 Open Access

Yuan Xiaoling, Shan Yajun, Yao Zhenyu, Li Jianyong, Zhao Zhenhu, Chen Jiapei, Cong Yuwen (2006) Mol Cells

Abstract: Severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV), a distant member of the Group 2 coronaviruses, has recently been identified as the etiological agent of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). The genome of SARS-CoV contains four structural genes that are homologous to genes found in other coronaviruses, as well as six subgroup-specific open reading frames (ORFs). ORF3 encodes a predicted 154-amino-acid protein that lacks similarity to any known protein, and is designated 3b in this article. We reported previously that SARS-CoV 3b is predominantly localized in the nucleolus, and induces G0/G1 arrest and apoptosis in transfected cells. In this study, we show that SARS-CoV 3b fused with EGFP at its N- or C- terminus co-localized with a mitochondria-specific marker in some transfected cells. Mutation analysis of SARS-CoV 3b revealed that the domain spanning amino acids 80 to 138 was essential for its mitochondria localization. These results provide new directions for studies of the role of SARS-CoV 3b protein in SARS pathogenesis.

• Bioblast editor: Gnaiger E

Labels: MiParea: mt-Medicine 

Stress:Cell death  Organism: Human 

Virus