This proposal represents a close collaborative effort between the Jardetzky and Longnecker laboratories focusing on understanding Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) entry into target cells and in particular defining how receptor binding triggers fusion mediated by EBV-encoded glycoproteins. EBV is a causative agent in endemic Burkitt's lymphoma, Hodgkin's lymphoma, and undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). EBV is also recognized as an important pathogen in immunosuppressed individuals including HIV/AIDS patients causing a variety of proliferative disorders such as immunoblastic lymphomas, oral hairy leukoplakia, and other pathologies. Fusion of EBV with a cellular membrane minimally requires a complex of viral proteins that includes gB, gH/gL, and gp42 for B cells and gB and gH/gL for epithelial cells. In the previous funding period, we made substantial progress in understanding how EBV as well as other herpesviruses bind to and ultimately fuse with target cells. In the past funding period, we solved three key structures - gp42 alone, which allowed comparison to our previous structure of gp42 bound to the receptor HLA, gH/gL, and the post fusion form of gB. In addition, in the previous funding period, we began to identify functional domains of these key glycoproteins providing considerable momentum to our proposed studies in the new funding period. Overall, in our two aims, we plan to elucidate how receptor binding to EBV triggers changes in viral glycoprotein interactions that ultimately result in refolding of gB and fusion of the virion envelope with a cellular membrane. Clarifying the interactions between cellular receptors and viral glycoproteins, and the steps that lead from receptor binding to membrane fusion, is essential for understanding the tropisms behind EBV associated diseases.

Public Health Relevance

This proposed research represents a collaborative research program between Dr. Longnecker and Dr. Jardetzky to define the molecular mechanisms involved in Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) entry into B lymphocytes and epithelial cells - the major cellular targets of EBV infection in human hosts. EBV is associated with a variety of hematopoietic, epithelial, and lymphoproliferative diseases and the proposed research will lead to a better understanding of EBV and herpesvirus entry in general and may result in the identification of new targets for herpesvirus therapeutics.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AI076183-12
Application #
8636982
Study Section
Virology - A Study Section (VIRA)
Program Officer
Beisel, Christopher E
Project Start
2002-02-22
Project End
2018-03-31
Budget Start
2014-04-01
Budget End
2015-03-31
Support Year
12
Fiscal Year
2014
Total Cost
$507,585
Indirect Cost
$82,133
Name
Northwestern University Chicago
Department
Microbiology/Immun/Virology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
005436803
City
Chicago
State
IL
Country
United States
Zip Code
60611
Chen, Jia; Sathiyamoorthy, Karthik; Zhang, Xianming et al. (2018) Ephrin receptor A2 is a functional entry receptor for Epstein-Barr virus. Nat Microbiol 3:172-180
Möhl, Britta S; Chen, Jia; Park, Seo Jin et al. (2017) Epstein-Barr Virus Fusion with Epithelial Cells Triggered by gB Is Restricted by a gL Glycosylation Site. J Virol 91:
Sathiyamoorthy, Karthik; Jiang, Jiansen; Möhl, Britta S et al. (2017) Inhibition of EBV-mediated membrane fusion by anti-gHgL antibodies. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 114:E8703-E8710
Chen, Jia; Jardetzky, Theodore S; Longnecker, Richard (2016) The Cytoplasmic Tail Domain of Epstein-Barr Virus gH Regulates Membrane Fusion Activity through Altering gH Binding to gp42 and Epithelial Cell Attachment. MBio 7:
Möhl, Britta S; Schröter, Christina; Klupp, Barbara G et al. (2016) Comparative Mutagenesis of Pseudorabies Virus and Epstein-Barr Virus gH Identifies a Structural Determinant within Domain III of gH Required for Surface Expression and Entry Function. J Virol 90:2285-93
Möhl, Britta S; Chen, Jia; Sathiyamoorthy, Karthik et al. (2016) Structural and Mechanistic Insights into the Tropism of Epstein-Barr Virus. Mol Cells 39:286-91
Sathiyamoorthy, Karthik; Hu, Yao Xiong; Möhl, Britta S et al. (2016) Structural basis for Epstein-Barr virus host cell tropism mediated by gp42 and gHgL entry glycoproteins. Nat Commun 7:13557
Rowe, Cynthia L; Chen, Jia; Jardetzky, Theodore S et al. (2015) Membrane anchoring of Epstein-Barr virus gp42 inhibits fusion with B cells even with increased flexibility allowed by engineered spacers. MBio 6:
Sathiyamoorthy, Karthik; Jiang, Jiansen; Hu, Yao Xiong et al. (2014) Assembly and architecture of the EBV B cell entry triggering complex. PLoS Pathog 10:e1004309
Chen, Jia; Zhang, Xianming; Jardetzky, Theodore S et al. (2014) The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) glycoprotein B cytoplasmic C-terminal tail domain regulates the energy requirement for EBV-induced membrane fusion. J Virol 88:11686-95

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