Glycan recognition in globally dominant human rotaviruses

Nat Commun. 2018 Jul 6;9(1):2631. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-05098-4.

Abstract

Rotaviruses (RVs) cause life-threatening diarrhea in infants and children worldwide. Recent biochemical and epidemiological studies underscore the importance of histo-blood group antigens (HBGA) as both cell attachment and susceptibility factors for the globally dominant P[4], P[6], and P[8] genotypes of human RVs. How these genotypes interact with HBGA is not known. Here, our crystal structures of P[4] and a neonate-specific P[6] VP8*s alone and in complex with H-type I HBGA reveal a unique glycan binding site that is conserved in the globally dominant genotypes and allows for the binding of ABH HBGAs, consistent with their prevalence. Remarkably, the VP8* of P[6] RVs isolated from neonates displays subtle structural changes in this binding site that may restrict its ability to bind branched glycans. This provides a structural basis for the age-restricted tropism of some P[6] RVs as developmentally regulated unbranched glycans are more abundant in the neonatal gut.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Motifs
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Binding Sites
  • Blood Group Antigens / biosynthesis
  • Cell Line
  • Conserved Sequence
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Fucose / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Models, Molecular
  • Mutation / genetics
  • Polysaccharides / chemistry
  • Polysaccharides / metabolism*
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / chemistry
  • Rotavirus / metabolism*
  • Rotavirus / pathogenicity
  • Rotavirus Infections / pathology
  • Rotavirus Infections / virology
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins / chemistry

Substances

  • Blood Group Antigens
  • Polysaccharides
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins
  • NS35 protein, rotavirus
  • Fucose