Characterizing a Histidine Switch Controlling pH-Dependent Conformational Changes of the Influenza Virus Hemagglutinin

During the fusion of the influenza virus to the host cell, bending of the HA2 chain of hemagglutinin into a hairpin-shaped structure in a pH-dependent manner facilitates the fusion of the viral envelope and the endosomal membrane. To characterize the structural and dynamical responses of the hinge region of HA2 to pH changes and examine the role of a conserved histidine in this region (the hinge histidine), we have performed an extensive set of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of 26-residue peptides encompassing the hinge regions of several hemagglutinin subtypes under both neutral and low pH conditions, modeled by the change of the protonation state of the hinge histidine. More than 70 sets of MD simulations (collectively amounting to 25.1 μs) were performed in both implicit and explicit solvents to study the effect of histidine protonation on structural dynamics of the hinge region. In both explicit and implicit solvent simulations, hinge bending was consistently observed upon the protonation of the histidine in all the simulations starting with an initial straight helical conformation, whereas the systems with a neutral histidine retained their primarily straight conformation throughout the simulations. Conversely, the MD simulations starting from an initially bent conformation resulted in the formation of a straight helical structure upon the neutralization of the hinge histidine, whereas the bent structure was maintained when the hinge histidine remained protonated. Finally, mutation of the hinge histidine to alanine abolishes the bending response of the peptide altogether. A molecular mechanism based on the interaction of the hinge histidine with neighboring acidic residues is proposed to be responsible for its role in controlling the conformation of the hinge. We propose that this might present a common mechanism for pH-controlled structural changes in helical structures when histidines act as the pH sensor.     

Liposome-Induced Conformational Changes of an Epitopic Peptide and its Palmitoylated Derivative of Influenza Virus Hemagglutinin

The conformation of synthetic HA_317-329-NH₂representing the major B- and T-cell epitopic region of influenza virus hemagglutinin, its palmitoylated derivative (HA_317-329-Thr(Pal)-NH₂), and the intersubunit peptide (HA_317-341-NH₂) comprising also the fusion peptide, were studied in aqueous buffer and in the presence of neutral and negatively charged liposomes. The free peptide is unordered in aqueous solution, even in the presence of liposomes. However, grafting the palmitic acid or the fusion peptide onto the C-terminus of the peptide enables the hydrophilic HA_317-329to adopt folded (turn) and β-strand structure on the surface of neutral and negatively charged liposomes, respectively. The results emphasize the importance of some kind of anchor for achieving a specific conformation of epitopic peptide HA_317-329-NH₂on the surface of liposomes.     

pH-Dependent Changes in Photoaffinity Labeling Patterns of the H1 Influenza Virus Hemagglutinin by Using an Inhibitor of Viral Fusion

The hemagglutinin (HA) protein undergoes a low-pH-induced conformational change in the acidic milieu of the endosome, resulting in fusion of viral and cellular membranes. A class of compounds that specifically interact with the HA protein of H1 and H2 subtype viruses and inhibit this conformational change was recently described (G. X. Luo et al., Virology 226:66–76, 1996, and J. Virol. 71:4062–4070, 1997). In this study, purified HA trimers (bromelain-cleaved HA [BHA]) are used to examine the properties and binding characteristics of these inhibitors. Compounds were able to inhibit the low-pH-induced change of isolated trimers, as detected by resistance to digestion with trypsin. Protection from digestion was extremely stable, as BHA-inhibitor complexes could be incubated for 24 h in low pH with almost no change in BHA structure. One inhibitor was prepared as a radiolabeled photoaffinity analog and used to probe for specific drug interactions with the HA protein. Analysis of BHA after photoaffinity analog binding and UV cross-linking revealed that the HA2 subunit of the HA was specifically radiolabeled. Cross-linking of the photoaffinity analog to BHA under neutral (native) pH conditions identified a stretch of amino acids within the α-helix of HA2 that interact with the inhibitor. Interestingly, cross-linking of the analog under acidic conditions identified a different region within the HA2 N terminus which interacts with the photoaffinity compound. These attachment sites help to delineate a potential binding pocket and suggest a model whereby the BHA is able to undergo a partial, reversible structural change in the presence of inhibitor compound.Influenza virus contains a lipid envelope that must fuse with host cell membranes in order to initiate virus infection (42, 43, 49). The hemagglutinin (HA) protein, a trimeric glycoprotein embedded in the viral membrane, is responsible for specific binding to cell surface sialic acid-containing receptors (46) and for the fusion of the two membranes (51). Although the mechanism of viral fusion is not fully elucidated, it is known that the fusion event is preceded by a conformational change occurring in the HA trimer that is triggered by the decreasing pH encountered during endosomal passage of the virus (23, 43, 49, 50). The HA trimer is composed of three identical monomers, each containing two protein subunits (designated HA1 and HA2) attached to each other via a disulfide linkage (36, 52). These monomer subunits are formed from a single chain precursor HA (HA0) that undergoes cleavage during transport from the Golgi to the cell surface (27). Entry of the influenza virus into host cells is facilitated through receptor binding by the HA1 subunit to the sialic acid-containing receptor. The conformational change brought on by the low pH of the endosome exposes the hydrophobic amino terminus of the HA2 subunit, which is believed to be a trigger in the fusion process (8, 17, 19, 40). It is postulated that the native state of the HA is a spring-loaded coiled coil and upon acidification, the hydrophobic fusion peptide is translocated toward the target membrane (9–11). This exposed hydrophobic amino terminus is believed to mediate fusion with the cell membrane (8, 19).Influenza virus HA can be cleaved from viral membrane surfaces with bromelain protease to create a soluble form of the protein (bromelain-cleaved HA [BHA]) (5, 52). The soluble HA remains a trimer with properties identical to those of the native membrane bound protein (44). Upon acidification, BHA undergoes a conformational change and forms rosettes caused by the aggregation of the exposed hydrophobic fusogenic domains of the HA2 subunit (14, 40). In this conformation, the BHA is susceptible to trypsin digestion, while it is resistant to this protease in its native conformation (15, 40).We have previously reported on the identification of a class of compounds that can inhibit influenza virus fusion (29, 30). These compounds are able to inhibit the low pH induced conformational change in the HA protein of H1 and H2 subtype viruses but not of the H3 subtype virus. Of these three subtypes, precise structural information is available only for H3 HA (8, 20, 37, 38, 45, 48). Previously a model of H1 HA was constructed using H3 HA crystal structure data (52) and a potential fusion inhibitor-binding pocket was identified within HA2 based on resistant mutation analysis and inhibitor selectivity (30). In order to probe this binding model and better understand the mechanism of action of these compounds, experiments were carried out with isolated H1 BHA. Various analogs were able to protect BHA from protease digestion following acid treatment and subsequent neutralization. A radiolabeled analog which possessed a photoactivatable azide moiety was synthesized (16). Affinity labeling at a neutral or acidic pH produced very different profiles of labeled amino acids, although in each case the amino acids were in or near the proposed binding pocket in the HA2. The consequences of the differences in HA2 photoaffinity labeling patterns with regard to the mechanism of action of these fusion inhibitors are discussed below.     

Role of Electrostatic Repulsion in Controlling pH-Dependent Conformational Changes of Viral Fusion Proteins

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Acid Sensitivity of the Influenza Virus Hemagglutinin

Influenza virus hemagglutinin was shown to be acid resistant if precipitates which form during acidification are first removed. Adsorption of virus to precipitates formed during acidification may cause a virus to be described incorrectly as acid sensitive.     

Inhibition of Glycosylation of the Influenza Virus Hemagglutinin

d-Glucosamine and 2-deoxy-d-glucose interfere with the biosynthesis of the hemagglutinin glycoproteins. With increasing inhibitor concentrations a progressive decrease in size of the precursor HA and the cleavage products, HA(1) and HA(2) can be observed. The shift in molecular weight is paralleled by a decrease of the carbohydrate content. This was shown by labeling studies with radioactive sugars which revealed that the inhibitors block the incorporation into glycoproteins, whereas they have no or only slight effects on the uptake and activation of sugars. Under conditions of maximal inhibition, the hemagglutinin proteins lack all or most of their carbohydrates. These findings indicate that the inhibitory effect of d-glucosamine and 2-deoxy-d-glucose is due to an impairment of glycosylation. When glycosylation is inhibited, the precursor polypeptide is synthesized at normal rates. Its cleavage products, however, are very heterogeneous. This suggests that carbohydrate protects the hemagglutinin from proteolytic degradation.     

Structural Analysis of Rabies Virus Glycoprotein Reveals pH-Dependent Conformational Changes and Interactions with a Neutralizing Antibody

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Mechanisms of Hemagglutinin Targeted Influenza Virus Neutralization

Human monoclonal antibodies have been identified which neutralize broad spectra of influenza A or B viruses. Here, we dissect the mechanisms by which such antibodies interfere with infectivity. We distinguish four mechanisms that link the conserved hemagglutinin (HA) epitopes of broadly neutralizing antibodies to critical processes in the viral life cycle. HA-stem binding antibodies can act intracellularly by blocking fusion between the viral and endosomal membranes and extracellularly by preventing the proteolytic activation of HA. HA-head binding antibodies prevent viral attachment and release. These insights into newly identified ways by which the human immune system can interfere with influenza virus infection may aid the development of novel universal vaccines and antivirals.     

禽流感病毒血凝素HA的可变性解析

以重组的蒙古鸭H5N2禽流感病毒A/Duck/Mongolia/54/01的血凝素HA蛋白的cDNA为模板,进行PCR随机突变,表达只有单个氨基酸突变的H5HA基因共计38个.根据红细胞吸附反应,分析这些突变HA的功能,仍然具有红细胞吸附活性的单个氨基酸突变的HA约占89%,说明H5HA单个氨基酸突变的容许率是相当高的.HA1区突变数目大约是HA2区的两倍.对失去红细胞吸附功能和某些仍然拥有红细胞吸附功能的HA及单个氨基酸突变的位置与结构的关系进行探讨.有两个位点氨基酸突变了两次,但都不影响红细胞吸附功能,对红细胞吸附功能的影响,似乎主要由位置决定,而不是取决于取代的氨基酸的种类.位点179位和122位的突变是不允许的;位点179位于H5N1的受体结合区域RBD内,122位位于A抗原决定簇区附近,推测在H5HA三维结构上,这两个位点位于HA分子的内部,维持着H5HA的结构.HA1Cys位点4和HA2Cys位点148的突变是不允许的.这两个Cys正好形成HA1和HA2连接的桥梁,对维持H5HA结构也是相当重要的.本实验中HA先后失去了三个糖基化位点,但并不影响吸附红细胞的功能.总之,通过实验分析以研究某些氨基酸改变的效果,寻找关键位点是否突变,可以作为评估H5N1野毒株大流行潜力的分子标志.     

Vaccination with a Recombinant Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Expressing an Influenza Virus Hemagglutinin Provides Complete Protection from Influenza Virus Challenge

Since the development of a system for generating vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) from plasmid DNAs, our laboratory has reported the expression of several different glycoproteins from recombinant VSVs. In one of these studies, high-level expression of an influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) from a recombinant VSV-HA and efficient incorporation of the HA protein into the virions was reported (E. Kretzschmar, L. Buonocore, M. J. Schnell, and J. K. Rose, J. Virol. 71:5982–5989, 1997). We report here that VSV-HA is an effective intranasal vaccine vector that raises high levels of neutralizing antibody to influenza virus and completely protects mice from bronchial pneumonia caused by challenge with a lethal dose of influenza A virus. Additionally, these recombinant VSVs are less pathogenic than wild-type VSV (serotype Indiana). This vector-associated pathogenicity was subsequently eliminated through introduction of specific attenuating deletions. These live attenuated recombinant VSVs have great potential as vaccine vectors.     

Biogenesis of Influenza A Virus Hemagglutinin Cross-Protective Stem Epitopes

Antigenic variation in the globular domain of influenza A virus (IAV) hemagglutinin (HA) precludes effective immunity to this major human pathogen. Although the HA stem is highly conserved between influenza virus strains, HA stem-reactive antibodies (StRAbs) were long considered biologically inert. It is now clear, however, that StRAbs reduce viral replication in animal models and protect against pathogenicity and death, supporting the potential of HA stem-based immunogens as drift-resistant vaccines. Optimally designing StRAb-inducing immunogens and understanding StRAb effector functions require thorough comprehension of HA stem structure and antigenicity. Here, we study the biogenesis of HA stem epitopes recognized in cells infected with various drifted IAV H1N1 strains using mouse and human StRAbs. Using a novel immunofluorescence (IF)-based assay, we find that human StRAbs bind monomeric HA in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and trimerized HA in the Golgi complex (GC) with similar high avidity, potentially good news for producing effective monomeric HA stem immunogens. Though HA stem epitopes are nestled among several N-linked oligosaccharides, glycosylation is not required for full antigenicity. Rather, as N-linked glycans increase in size during intracellular transport of HA through the GC, StRAb binding becomes temperature-sensitive, binding poorly to HA at 4°C and well at 37°C. A de novo designed, 65-residue protein binds the mature HA stem independently of temperature, consistent with a lack of N-linked oligosaccharide steric hindrance due to its small size. Likewise, StRAbs bind recombinant HA carrying simple N-linked glycans in a temperature-independent manner. Chemical cross-linking experiments show that N-linked oligosaccharides likely influence StRAb binding by direct local effects rather than by globally modifying the conformational flexibility of HA. Our findings indicate that StRAb binding to HA is precarious, raising the possibility that sufficient immune pressure on the HA stem region could select for viral escape mutants with increased steric hindrance from N-linked glycans.     

Nanodisc-Incorporated Hemagglutinin Provides Protective Immunity against Influenza Virus Infection

Every year, influenza virus infection causes significant mortality and morbidity in human populations. Although egg-based inactivated viral vaccines are available, their effectiveness depends on the correct prediction of the circulating viral strains and is limited by the time constraint of the manufacturing process. Recombinant subunit vaccines are easier to manufacture with a relatively short lead time but are limited in their efficacy partly because the purified recombinant membrane proteins in the soluble form most likely do not retain their native membrane-bound structure. Nanodisc (ND) particles are soluble, stable, and reproducibly prepared discoid shaped nanoscale structures that contain a discrete lipid bilayer bound by two amphipathic scaffold proteins. Because ND particles permit the functional reconstitution of membrane/envelope proteins, we incorporated recombinant hemagglutinin (HA) from influenza virus strain A/New Caledonia/20/99 (H1N1) into NDs and investigated their potential to elicit an immune response to HA and confer immunity to influenza virus challenge relative to the commercial vaccines Fluzone and FluMist. HA-ND vaccination induced a robust anti-HA antibody response consisting of predominantly the immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) subclass and a high hemagglutination inhibition titer. Intranasal immunization with HA-ND induced an anti-HA IgA response in nasal passages. HA-ND vaccination conferred protection that was comparable to that of Fluzone and FluMist against challenge with influenza virus strain A/Puerto Rico/8/1934 (H1N1).The influenza A virus-type viral genome encodes 11 proteins including hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). HA is important in virus transmission and is also a major determinant of host range (16). NA prevents viral aggregation and helps in the release of new viruses from the infected cell (25). These glycoproteins are the principal antigens against which humoral immune responses of the host are directed. Vaccination has been accepted as the most effective method of preventing influenza virus. Current licensed vaccines against influenza virus include conventional inactivated virus vaccine, live-attenuated vaccine, or inactivated “split-virus” vaccines, all grown in embryonated chicken eggs. Influenza virus vaccines may contain residual egg-derived antigens, which is a risk factor for persons with hypersensitivity to eggs. In the case of live-attenuated vaccines that are delivered by the mucosal route, there are several potential safety concerns including the possibility that the vaccine strain could undergo spontaneous genetic change and in a rare case of simultaneous infection with another influenza virus could undergo antigenic shift. These factors are of special concern for children and the elderly, who are the primary populations at risk for influenza virus infection (9). Therefore, there is a continuing need for developing more efficacious and safer vaccines.Apart from licensed vaccines, a number of different vaccine formulations including soluble glycoproteins, virus-like particles, and subunit vaccines (6, 9, 14) with various efficacies have been developed. Recombinant glycoprotein vaccines offer many distinct advantages, including cost, the possibility of adapting them to rapidly changing strains within a short time, and independence from egg-based formulations. In experimental setups, recombinant HA (rHA) and recombinant NA have provided protection against lethal challenge to mice (18, 27). The safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of trivalent rHA vaccines have been established (26), and a potential trivalent HA vaccine (FluBlok; Protein Sciences Corporation) is currently in phase III clinical trials.Some rHA-based vaccines elicit high titers of anti-HA antibodies. However, these antibodies do not necessarily possess a high capacity for virus neutralization. This apparent discrepancy likely results from the use of soluble HA protein that may not accurately mimic the native structure of the membrane-embedded glycoprotein on the viral envelope for immunization. This could result in a robust antibody response with a limited ability to react with “native epitopes.” This notion is supported by data from previously reported studies that indicated that antigens expressed in their native three-dimensional conformation can elicit a more effective antibody response than proteins in their nonnative forms (19). Therefore, we investigated whether rHA presented in a lipid-bilayer-embedded formulation would elicit a potent neutralizing antibody response.The Nanodisc (ND) system was developed as a novel method for functionally reconstituting membrane proteins into soluble nanoscale lipid bilayers (3, 4, 12, 22). NDs are robust, reproducible, and monodisperse discoidal particles 5.5 nm high and nominally 10 nm in diameter that are formed via a self-assembly process. ND particles contain two copies of an alpha-helical, amphipathic protein, termed membrane scaffold protein (MSP), which encircles a lipid bilayer in a “belt-like” fashion (Fig. ​(Fig.1a).1a). A mixture of phospholipids and MSP are placed in a nonequilibrium solubilized state, for instance, using detergent or high hydrostatic pressure, and the system is then allowed to approach equilibrium by the gentle removal of the perturbant. This initiates a process of self-assembly, wherein the phospholipids and MSP find each other and generate a discoidal phospholipid bilayer encircled by the MSP. The resulting nanostructures represent a highly stable and homogeneous population with an aqueous solubility in the millimolar range (11).Open in a separate windowFIG. 1.Construction of HA-NDs. (a) Schematic showing an ND particle that contains a phospholipid bilayer encircled by membrane scaffold proteins (left) (5) and the same ND particle with an embedded transmembrane protein (right) (17). (b) HA-ND assemblies were first purified by Ni²⁺ affinity chromatography. (Top left) Silver-stained SDS-PAGE showing flowthrough, wash, and elution of HA-ND assembly mix over a Ni-nitrilotriacetic acid column (FT1 and FT2 are flowthrough, and the eluate contains the eluted protein). Arrows show the positions of the 72-kDa HA band and the 25-kDa MSPs. (Top right) Anti-HA Western blotting of the same SDS-PAGE gel. Depending on the quality of purification, a certain fraction of full-length 72-kDa rHA (HA0) can exist as proteolytically cleaved HA1 (∼50-kDa) and HA2 (∼28-kDa) subunits. (Bottom left) Ni²⁺ column eluates were further purified by SEC. Silver-stained SDS-PAGE gel shows size-based fractionation of Ni²⁺ column eluate. The numbers at the bottom correspond to the fractions collected. The MSP amounts are largest at fractions 27 to 30, showing that empty NDs eluted at those fractions. (Bottom right) Anti-HA Western blotting of the same SDS-PAGE gel showing that HA-ND assemblies eluted mainly between fractions 18 and 26. (c) Elution profile of HA-ND following SEC separation. The elution times for protein standards used for calibration are indicated at the top. The control profile for empty NDs is superimposed. HA-ND assemblies have a shorter retention time than empty NDs. inj, injection. (d) HA-ND assemblies from different SEC fractions separate as discrete-sized molecules upon native PAGE separation. Silver staining (left) and anti-HA Western blotting (right) of native PAGE gels from size exclusion fractions show different HA polymers contained in NDs. Earlier fractions are rich in higher-polymeric forms of HA, while later fractions are richer in monomeric HA. Control HA was loaded in the last well to the right in both cases.The value of the ND self-assembly process is that one can simply and reproducibly incorporate membrane proteins into these structures. This is accomplished by including the membrane protein in the initial mixture of MSP, lipid, and detergent prior to the initiation of the self-assembly process. An incorporated membrane protein then finds itself in a native-like environment with stability and activity normally found in vivo. By using phospholipids with different chemical characteristics (charge, degree of unsaturation, and length of acyl chains), the bilayer environment can be optimized to accommodate functional requirements. Furthermore, larger scaffold proteins, which in turn create a larger-diameter particle, can be employed to incorporate multimers or membrane protein complexes. Numerous membrane proteins from the three major classes-integral, tethered, and embedded (including monomers and multimers)-in the lipid bilayer environment created by NDs have been studied (2-5, 8, 10, 13, 20, 23). Since the ND system creates a stable bilayer environment that mimics that encountered by a membrane protein in the cell membrane, membrane proteins display normal folding, native ligand binding kinetics, and intact signaling activity (1, 3, 5, 8, 10, 13, 17, 23).In this study, we successfully incorporated recombinant baculovirus-derived HA into NDs (HA-ND) and compared its efficacy to induce a relevant immune response and confer protection against influenza virus challenge with those of existing licensed vaccines by using a mouse model.     

Properties of an Antigenic Glycoprotein Isolated from Influenza Virus Hemagglutinin

A purified antigen, HABA protein, has been derived from influenza virus concentrates by extraction with denaturing solvents. The protein lacks hemagglutinating activity but binds completely strain-specific, hemagglutination-inhibiting antibodies and induces neutralizing antibodies in experimental animals. Physicochemical characterization of HABA protein identifies it as a single homogeneous glycoprotein with a molecular weight of 78,000. On dissociation with guanidine or sodium dodecyl sulfate, in the presence of reducing agents, only one size of polypeptide with a molecular weight of the order of 40,000 is characteristic of the preparations. The data indicate that HABA protein is a dimer of HA(1) polypeptide of the influenza virus hemagglutinin substructure, and that only trace amounts of other polypeptides are present.     

Cholesterol Is Required for Surface Transport of Influenza Virus Hemagglutinin

Transport from the TGN to the basolateral surface involves a rab/N-ethylmaleimide–sensitive fusion protein (NSF)/soluble NSF attachment protein (SNAP)/SNAP receptor (SNARE) mechanism. Apical transport instead is thought to be mediated by detergent-insoluble sphingolipid–cholesterol rafts. By reducing the cholesterol level of living cells by 60–70% with lovastatin and methyl-β-cyclodextrin, we show that the TGN-to-surface transport of the apical marker protein influenza virus hemagglutinin was slowed down, whereas the transport of the basolateral marker vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein as well as the ER-to-Golgi transport of both membrane proteins was not affected. Reduction of transport of hemagglutinin was accompanied by increased solubility in the detergent Triton X-100 and by significant missorting of hemagglutinin to the basolateral membrane. In addition, depletion of cellular cholesterol by lovastatin and methyl-β-cyclodextrin led to missorting of the apical secretory glycoprotein gp-80, suggesting that gp-80 uses a raft-dependent mechanism for apical sorting. Our data provide for the first time direct evidence for the functional significance of cholesterol in the sorting of apical membrane proteins as well as of apically secreted glycoproteins.     

整合禽流感病毒血凝素糖蛋白的假型鼠白血病病毒

本研究通过一个瞬时转染系统将H5N1亚型鹅源禽流感病毒囊膜表面的血凝素(HA)糖蛋白整合到鼠白血病病毒(MuLV)颗粒表面并进行了感染性测定。将包含HA基因的真核表达质粒pcDNA-HA与MuLV假病毒构建体系的两种质粒pHIT60(包括MuLV的结构蛋白基因,即gag和pol)和pHIT111(为MuLV的基因组,还包括一个报告基因LacZ)瞬时共转染转化了SV40大T抗原的人胚肾细胞293T,48小时后收集假病毒上清进行了一系列鉴定。将假病毒上清超速离心后用抗H5亚型禽流感病毒的多抗通过Western-blot证实HA 蛋白能够在此假病毒颗粒表面表达,表明HA能够整合到此病毒粒子表面。通过感染293T、COS 7和NIH3T3 三种不同的靶细胞,均能检测到LacZ基因的表达,证实所构建的假病毒粒子具有感染性。本研究成功构建了具有感染性的MuLV-HA假病毒,为研究鹅源禽流感病毒侵入细胞的机理及其组织嗜性的变异提供一种新方法。     

整合禽流感病毒血凝素糖蛋白的假型鼠白血病病毒

本研究通过一个瞬时转染系统将H5N1亚型鹅源禽流感病毒囊膜表面的血凝素(HA)糖蛋白整合到鼠白血病病毒(MuLV)颗粒表面并进行了感染性测定.将包含HA基因的真核表达质粒pcDNA-HA与MuLV假病毒构建体系的两种质粒pHIT60(包括MuLV的结构蛋白基因,即gag和pol)和pHIT111(为MuLV的基因组,还包括一个报告基因LacZ)瞬时共转染转化了SV40大T抗原的人胚肾细胞293T,48小时后收集假病毒上清进行了一系列鉴定.将假病毒上清超速离心后用抗H5亚型禽流感病毒的多抗通过Western-blot证实HA 蛋白能够在此假病毒颗粒表面表达,表明HA能够整合到此病毒粒子表面.通过感染293T、COS-7和NIH3T3三种不同的靶细胞,均能检测到LacZ基因的表达,证实所构建的假病毒粒子具有感染性.本研究成功构建了具有感染性的MuLV-HA假病毒,为研究鹅源禽流感病毒侵入细胞的机理及其组织嗜性的变异提供一种新方法.     

Hemagglutinin of Influenza Virus Partitions into the Nonraft Domain of Model Membranes

The HA of influenza virus is a paradigm for a transmembrane protein thought to be associated with membrane-rafts, liquid-ordered like nanodomains of the plasma membrane enriched in cholesterol, glycosphingolipids, and saturated phospholipids. Due to their submicron size in cells, rafts can not be visualized directly and raft-association of HA was hitherto analyzed by indirect methods. In this study, we have used GUVs and GPMVs, showing liquid disordered and liquid ordered domains, to directly visualize partition of HA by fluorescence microscopy. We show that HA is exclusively (GUVs) or predominantly (GPMVs) present in the liquid disordered domain, regardless of whether authentic HA or domains containing its raft targeting signals were reconstituted into model membranes. The preferential partition of HA into ld domains and the difference between lo partition in GUV and GPMV are discussed with respect to differences in packaging of lipids in membranes of model systems and living cells suggesting that physical properties of lipid domains in biological membranes are tightly regulated by protein-lipid interactions.