Dengue virus type 1 pre-membrane protein (prM)

The Dengue virus type 1 pre-membrane (prM) protein is a critical structural component of the Dengue virus (DENV-1) involved in the assembly and maturation of viral particles (UniProt: P17763). It serves as a molecular chaperone for the envelope (E) protein, preventing the E protein from undergoing premature, low-pH-induced conformational changes and fusion during its transport through the host cell's secretory pathway (PubMed: 18321300). In the trans-Golgi network, the host protease furin cleaves prM into the mature membrane (M) protein and a pro-peptide (pr), a step essential for the virus to become fully infectious (PubMed: 23864630). While prM is a target for the host's humoral immune response, many anti-prM antibodies are cross-reactive across DENV serotypes and are often non-neutralizing. These antibodies are a major driver of antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE), where they facilitate the infection of Fc-gamma receptor-expressing cells, such as macrophages, leading to increased viral load and more severe clinical manifestations like Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (PubMed: 20508130). As such, prM is a key focus in the development of vaccines and therapeutics, where the goal is to elicit protective immunity without triggering ADE (PubMed: 28416503).

Other names

prM proteinMembrane glycoprotein precursorPre-membrane proteinprM/M

Induction of humoral and cellular immune responses against the viral structural proteins to prevent infection; specifically, antibodies may neutralize the virus or prevent the maturation of prM into M (PubMed: 28416503).