Processing of the transmembrane glycoprotein (GP) of Marburg virus involved the conversion of an endo H-sensitive, ER-specific form into an endo H-resistant, Golgi-specific precursor that was cleaved into GP(1) and GP(2). Cleavage was mediated by furin or another subtilisin-like endoprotease with similar substrate specificity as indicated by mutational analysis of the cleavage site and inhibition using peptidyl chloromethylketones. Mature GP consisted of disulfide-linked GP(1) and GP(2) subunits.
Copyright 2000 Academic Press.