The medium segment of the tripartite negative-stranded RNA genome of hantav
iruses encodes for the predicted glycoprotein precursor GPC. We have demons
trated here the expression of the glycoprotein precursor of Hantaan virus f
ollowing transfection of mammalian cells. The cleavage of the precursor int
o the glycoproteins G1 and G2 followed the rules for signal peptides and se
emed to occur directly at the pentapeptide motif "WAASA." Our data indicate
that the signal peptidase complex is responsible for the proteolytic proce
ssing of the precursor GPC of Hantaan virus. The comparison of this region
of the glycoprotein precursor, including the absolutely conserved WAASA mot
if, suggests a similar cleavage event for all hantavirus glycoproteins. (C)
2001 Academic Press.