Microbiologists found the vulnerability the virus of H5N1 avian influenza

05.02.2009

European and Chinese microbiologists discovered vulnerability avian influenza virus H5N1 - Center for regulating the reproduction of the virus, which can become easy "target for future drugs against influenza.



Team Stephen Kyusaka from the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Grenoble and Zhao Tszyhe team from the National Laboratory of Macromolecules Chinese Academy of Sciences were able to determine how the viral enzymes are restructuring the work of a healthy cell so that it switches to copying and synthesis of new virus particles, RIA "News."

To prevent the propagation of viruses in the body, it is necessary to develop a medicine, the locking mechanism or lock it.

Avian influenza A virus contains a spetsferment - RNA polymerase, which controls the copying and synthesis of viral RNA inside infected cells. Polymerase rebuilds all of the cells, "stealing" a small part - the so-called CEP (English - "cap") - the matrix cells of the host RNA, and adding it to the viral mRNA.

Thanks kepu cell differentiates its matrix RNA from a stranger. The virus, "putting on" CEP cells on the viral RNA, causes the cell to take her for her. After this viral mRNA easily built into the system of cell protein synthesis, which starts the process of copying and synthesis of new viruses.

H5N1 virus polymerase consists of three subunits - protein molecules of RA, RV1 and RV2. Earlier, a group Kyusaka found that RV2 is responsible for liaison kepa host mRNA molecule with the polymerase, but which one subunit is responsible for the detachment of the kepa, until recently, scientists did not know. Previous studies have indicated that the active center, breaking away from the CEP mRNA is either subunit PB1, or RV2.

Scientists became clear that the isolation of mRNA kepa actively center subunits RA. European researchers managed to grow crystals of the RA domain of viral polymerase and to study their structure at the European Synchrotron Radiation Center in Grenoble. As a result, specialists were able to discern the structure of the protein with an accuracy of individual amino acids forming the active center, "breaking away" from the mRNA kepy cells.

Chinese scientists have done similar work at the synchrotron installation Argonne National Laboratory in Chicago (USA).

The new data will help develop new drugs, which are to be based on selective suppression of the active center of viral RNA polymerase.