ERA NanoSci - Nanocommunication: How virus particles convince cells to let them inside

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Kay Grünewald; Professorin Dr. Beate Sodeik
• Subject Area: Structural Biology ; Theoretical Chemistry: Electronic Structure, Dynamics, Simulation
• Term: from 2009 to 2015
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 118558436

Eukaryotic viruses replicating in the nucleus must pass two barriers, the plasma membrane and the nuclear envelope, to deliver their genome to a compartment allowing replication, and to initiate an infection. Viral nanomachines have evolved to efficiently interface with and overcome these barriers. To arrive at a thorough understanding of this molecular interfacing we will address the following questions: i) What is the mechanochemistry of contact formation between an enveloped viral particle and a cell membrane? How does interfacing between a viral and a host membrane trigger capsid release in the cytosol? ii) What are the physical, structural and chemical principles underlying functional coupling between viral capsids and nuclear pore complexes allowing access to the nucleus? How is the release of the viral genome triggered? Dissecting and describing these molecular interfacing mechanisms will provide researchers with tools to design nano-objects that can enter and influence cells.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Israel, Netherlands, United Kingdom
• Participating Persons: Dr. Amnon Harel; Dr. Gijs Wuite