This entry represents the N-terminal domain of the pneumoviral matrix protein. The N-terminal domain of the RSV M protein (residues 1-126) adopts a twisted beta-sandwich fold comprised of two nearly perpendicular beta-sheets - one with 3 strands and ...
This entry represents the N-terminal domain of the pneumoviral matrix protein. The N-terminal domain of the RSV M protein (residues 1-126) adopts a twisted beta-sandwich fold comprised of two nearly perpendicular beta-sheets - one with 3 strands and one with 4 strands [1]. The overall topology is a curved horseshoe-like arrangement with the 3-stranded beta-sheet forming the concave inner face flanked by loop regions, and the 4-stranded beta-sheet forming the convex outer face. This domain is loosely associated with the C-terminal domain via weak hydrophobic interactions. The N-terminal domain contains a distinctive negatively charged surface lobe that may direct interactions with binding partners. Sequence alignments indicate that regions of diversity between RSV and other pneumoviruses map to external loop regions and sheet edges in this domain, likely mediating species-specific protein or RNA interactions.