Sequence and structure of the coronavirus peplomer protein

Coronaviruses display a characteristic fringe of large (17–20 nm), clubshaped peplomers, each consisting of a di- or trimer of the peplomer protein (Cavanagh et al. 1983). The peplomer protein, E2, plays an important role during the infection proces. It mediates the binding of virions to the host-cell receptors and is involved in membrane fusion. In addition, the E2 protein appears to be a major inducer of protective immunity to coronaviral infection (reviewed by Sturman and Holmes, 1983

A novel X-linked gene, G4.5. is responsible for Barth Syndrome

Barth syndrome is a severe inherited disorder, often fatal in childhood, characterized by cardiac and skeletal myopathy, short stature and neutropenia. The disease has been mapped to a very gene-rich region in distal portion of Xq28. We now report the identification of unique mutations in one of the genes in this region, termed G4.5, expressed at high level in cardiac and skeletal muscle. Different mRNAs can be produced by alternative splicing of the primary G4.5 transcript, encoding novel proteins that differ at the N terminus and in the central region. The mutations introduce stop codons in the open reading frame interrupting translation of most of the putative proteins (which we term 'tafazzins'). Our results suggest that G4.5 is the genetic locus responsible for the Barth syndrome