Characterization of the molecular features of the pestivirus Erns protein with regard to ist function as structural component of the virion and virulence factor

鼠疫病毒的Erns蛋白是一种特别有趣的病毒蛋白，因为它将结构表面蛋白的作用与抑制1型干扰素反应、建立自然宿主的持续感染和毒力的功能结合在一起，后三个特征与该蛋白的核糖核酸酶活性有关。该蛋白质两种功能的潜在机制尚不清楚，将在计划中的研究中进行调查。与作为结构蛋白的功能相关的主要问题涉及Erns在病毒粒子组装和萌发中的作用以及负责将蛋白质分类到病毒颗粒中的结构的鉴定。这项工作的特别重点将是不寻常的ERNS膜锚及其保守的氨基酸基序对这些过程的重要性。到目前为止，ERNS的毒力因子功能依赖于其内在的核糖核酸酶活性、二聚化和从宿主细胞中部分分泌。计划中的工作旨在阐明ERN这些特征的生化和细胞生物学基础。这项工作的结果将有助于了解瘟疫病毒生物学的一般方面，以及这些病毒与宿主免疫系统的相互作用。

The Erns protein of pestiviruses represents a specifically interesting viral protein since it combines the role of a structural surface protein with functions in repression of the type 1 interferon response, establishment of persistent infection and virulence in the natural host with the latter three features linked to the RNase activity of this protein. The mechanisms underlying both functions of the protein are not known in detail and will be investigated in the planned studies. Major questions in context with the function as a structural protein concern the role of Erns in virion assembly and budding and identification of the structure responsible for sorting of the protein into the virus particle. A special focus of the work will be on the importance of the unusual Erns membrane anchor with its conserved amino acid motifs for these processes. The virulence factor function of Erns is so far regarded to depend on its intrinsic RNase activity, its dimerization and its partial secretion form the host cell. The planned work aims at elucidation of the biochemical and cell biological basis of these features of Erns. The results of this work will contribute to understanding general aspects of pestivirus biology and the interaction of these viruses with the immune system of their hosts.