Chemical crosslinking of proteins of the influenza virion. 1. Interrelationships

Protein-protein interactions in an alphavirus membrane

Using homobifunctional chemical cross-linkers with various span distances, we have determined the near-neighbor associations and planar organization of the E1 and E2 envelope glycoproteins which compose the icosahedral surface of Sindbis virus. We have found that E1-E2 heterodimers, which form the virus protomeric units, exist in two conformationally distinct forms, reflecting their nonequivalent positions in the icosahedron. Three of these heterodimers form the trimeric morphologic units (capsomeres) which are held together by central E1-E1 interactions. In addition, we present data which suggest that E2-E2 interactions organize the capsomeres into pentameric and hexameric geometric units and that E1-E1 interactions between capsomeres maintain the icosahedral lattice in mature virions.

Chemical cross-linking of proteins of the influenza virion. 2. Acid-induced irreversible conformational changes in HA1 and HA2

Purified influenza virus (A/FPV/Rostock/34;H7N1) was exposed briefly to pH 5 before returning to an alkaline pH. Virus was then reacted with one of three chemical cross-linking reagents [dimethyl suberimidate (DMS), tartryl diazide (TDA), or formaldehyde which span 11, 6, and 2A, respectively]. Cross-linked polypeptides were analysed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under reducing conditions and identified with monospecific antisera against HA1, HA2, NP and M1. Acidification resulted in changes in the cross-linking patterns for both HA1 and HA2 which could be detected with all three reagents. Most notable were the data with formaldehyde: under alkaline conditions cross-linking gave only HA1:HA2 heteropolymers but after brief acidification none of these were formed and in their place was a novel HA1 homodimer, an HA2 homotrimer and an HA2 of Mr 50k cross-linked to form a homodimer with another HA2 or to a heterodimer with M1. Although cross-linking by formaldehyde was much more affected by acidification of the virus than cross-linking by DMS or TDA, over half the polymers cross-linked by DMS were no longer formed after acidification. The patterns of cross-linking of NP and M1 were unchanged by low pH treatment.