The browser you are using is not supported by this website. All versions of Internet Explorer are no longer supported, either by us or Microsoft (read more here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/windows/end-of-ie-support).

Please use a modern browser to fully experience our website, such as the newest versions of Edge, Chrome, Firefox or Safari etc.

Characterization of the complement inhibitory function of Rhesus rhadinovirus complement control protein (RCP).

Author

  • Marcin Okroj
  • Linda Mark
  • Anna Stokowska
  • Scott W Wong
  • Nicola Rose
  • David J Blackbourn
  • Bruno O Villoutreix
  • O Brad Spiller
  • Anna Blom

Summary, in English

Rhesus Rhadinovirus (RRV) is currently the closest known, fully sequenced homolog of human Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV). Both these viruses encode complement inhibitors: KSHV-complement control protein (KCP) and RRV-complement control protein (RCP). Previously we characterized in detail the functional properties of KCP as complement inhibitor. Herein, we performed comparative analyses for two variants of RCP protein, encoded by RRV strains H26-95 and 17577. Both RCP variants and KCP inhibited human and rhesus complement when tested in hemolytic assays measuring all steps of activation via the classical and the alternative pathway. RCP variants from both RRV strains supported C3b- and C4b-degradation by factor I and decay-acceleration of the classical C3 convertase, similar to KCP. Additionally, the 17577 RCP variant accelerated decay of the alternative C3 convertase, which was not seen for KCP. In contrast to KCP, RCP showed no affinity to heparin and is the first described complement inhibitor in which the binding site for C3b/C4b does not interact with heparin. Molecular modeling shows a structural disruption in the region of RCP that corresponds to the KCP-heparin binding site. This makes RRV a superior model for future in vivo investigations of complement evasion, as RCP does not play a supportive role in viral attachment as KCP does.

Publishing year

2009

Language

English

Pages

505-514

Publication/Series

Journal of Biological Chemistry

Volume

2008

Issue

Nov 6.

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Topic

  • Medicinal Chemistry

Status

Published

Research group

  • Clinical Chemistry, Malmö

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1083-351X