SUMOylation of Murine Leukemia Virus Capsid Protein Early in Infection

During infection, poliovirus binds to its receptor and undergoes conformational changes that ultimately result in release of the genomic RNA into the cell. The details of this process are poorly understood. Tuthill et al. (p. 172–180) report the development of a simple model system in which liposomes containing NTA head groups are used to capture His-tagged ectodomains of the poliovirus receptor. The receptor-decorated liposomes bind virus and initiate conversion to membrane-anchored intermediates that are indistinguishable from those seen during infection. This model provides a powerful tool for biochemical and structural characterization of cell entry mechanisms employed by poliovirus and other nonenveloped viruses.