The structure of the cytomegalovirus-encoded m04 glycoprotein, a prototypical member of the m02 family of immunoevasins

Abstract

The ability of CMVs to evade the immune system of the host is dependent on the expression of a wide array of glycoproteins, many of which interfere with natural killer cell function. In murine CMV, two large protein families mediate this immune-evasive function. Although it is established that them145familymembersmimicthe structure of MHC-I molecules, the structure of the m02 family remains unknown. The most extensively studiedm02familymember is m04, a glycoprotein that escorts newly assembled MHC-I molecules to the cell surface, presumably to avoid "missing self" recognition. Here we report the crystal structure of the m04 ectodomain, thereby providing insight into this large immunoevasin f..