Abstract
Abstract The Sendai virus induces fusion of chicken erythrocytes in the presence of bivalent cations such as Ca2+, Mn2+, or Mg2+. Beside the known activities of the virus envelope, another yet unknown viral factor seems necessary for inducing fusion. Low concentrations of glutaraldehyde (0.02%) greatly inhibit the fusion activity of the virus while the hemagglutination, hemolysis, and neuraminidase activities remain relatively intact. Ca2+ (40 mm) is able to induce fusion at pH 10.5, without any added virus. Under these conditions, a low percentage of the membrane phosphatidylethanolamine and lecithin are hydrolyzed and form lyso compounds. The lyso compounds probably are responsible for the formation of homopolykaryon. An electron microscope study of the fusion process is presented.
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