Genetic analysis of a hydrophobic domain of coxsackie B3 virus protein 2B: a moderate degree of hydrophobicity is required for a cis-acting function in viral RNA synthesis

Coxsackie B virus protein 2B contains near its C terminus a hydrophobic domain with an amino acid composition that is characteristic for transmembrane regions. A molecular genetic approach was followed to define the role of this domain in virus reproduction and to study the structural and hydrophobic requirements of the domain. Nine substitution mutations were introduced in an infectious cDNA clone of coxsackie B3 virus. The effects of the mutations were studied in vivo by transfection of Buffalo green monkey cells with copy RNA transcripts. The results reported here suggest that a critical degree of hydrophobicity of the domain is essential for virus growth. The mutations S77M, C75M, I64S, and V66S, which caused either a small increase or decrease in mean hydrophobicity, yielded viable viruses. The double mutations S77M/C75M and I64S/V6-6S, which caused a more pronounced increase or decrease in hydrophobicity, were nonviable. Negatively charged residues (mutations A71E, I73E, and A71E/I73E) abolished virus growth. The mutations had no effect on the synthesis and processing of the viral polyprotein. Replication and complementation were studied by using a subgenomic coxsackievirus replicon containing the luciferase gene in place of the capsid coding region. Analysis of luciferase accumulation demonstrated that the mutations cause primary defects in viral RNA synthesis that cannot be complemented by wild-type protein 2B provided in trans. The hydrophobic domain is predicted by computer analysis to form a multimeric transmembrane helix. The proposed interaction with the membrane and the implications of the mutations on this interaction are discussed.