Abstract
The measles virus (MV) haemagglutinin (HA) is a class 2 glycoprotein by means of which the virus particle attaches to the host cell receptor. We have previously expressed this glycoprotein as a vaccinia recombinant virus and have shown that the HA glycoprotein synthesized is indistinguishable from that coded by MV. In the present study, we report that in RK13 cells a soluble form (sHA) of the HA is secreted into the medium. We show by SDS-PAGE and sucrose density gradient centrifugation that the sHA is a dimer and is smaller than the cell-associated form. Using a variety of inhibitors the production of sHA was shown to be a late event, probably occurring at the membrane; only fully glycosylated molecules were found in sHA. Finally, we demonstrate that sHA retains its antigenicity with conformation-dependent MAbs and its receptor recognition function. We conclude that sHA is a valuable tool for use in studies of the structure and function of the MV HA glycoprotein.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.