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R W Ruigrok

Publications and source records attributed to R W Ruigrok.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Purification and characterization of wild-type and ts 112 mutant protein IIIa of human adenovirus 2 expressed in Escherichia coli.

The expression of the protein IIIa gene from human adenovirus type 2 (Ad2) in Escherichia coli has been described previously (M. Cuillel, M. Milleville, and J. C. D'Halluin, 1987, Gene 55, 295-301). The same construct has now been used to express a protein IIIa gene from an Ad2 mutant ts 112 whose functional mutation occurs in this gene. The mutant virus is defective at nonpermissive temperatures in the latest stage of virus maturation. Both the wild-type and ts 112 recombinant proteins are produced in E. coli in an insoluble form, but are readily solubilized in urea. They have the same molecular weight in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), they sediment as a monomeric species in sucrose gradient centrifugation, and proteolytic digestion reveals a similar pattern for both proteins. Hydrodynamic studies and electron microscopy show that both proteins have an elongated shape, which can be approximated to a cylinder of 20 nm in length and 2.8 nm in diameter. The only well-established difference between the mutant and the wild-type recombinant protein is the higher solubility of the mutant.

Adenoviruses, Human↗

Electron microscopy of the influenza virus submembranal structure.

Electron micrographs of stain-penetrated influenza virus particles show a variety of internal structures that all consist of units of 4 X 4 nm. Isolated influenza virus M-protein, that is reassociated with lipid, forms very similar structures on liposomes. We therefore conclude that the 4 X 4 nm unit is M-protein. We further argue that the M-protein is not arranged with icosahedral symmetry.

Liposomes↗

Conformational aspects of the acid-induced fusion mechanism of influenza virus hemagglutinin. Circular dichroism and fluorescence studies.

Circular dichroism and tryptophan fluorescence spectroscopy have been used to investigate the structures of the influenza virus membrane glycoprotein hemagglutinin, acid-treated hemagglutinin, and fragments of hemagglutinin derived by proteolysis. The conformational change in hemagglutinin which occurs at the pH of membrane fusion (pH 5-6) was associated with a significant change of the environment of tyrosine residues, a change in the environment of tryptophan residues, but no changes in secondary structure. Tryptic digestion of the hemagglutinin in its low pH conformation which releases one of the subunit polypeptides (HA1) caused minimal changes in tyrosine and tryptophan environments but a small secondary structural change in HA1. The secondary structure of the remainder of the molecule (HA2) was very similar to that predicted from the known x-ray crystallographic structure of the native molecule. However, fluorescence spectroscopy indicated a tertiary change in structure in the coiled coil of alpha-helices which form the fibrous central stem of the molecule. These results are consistent with a conformational change required for membrane fusion which involves a decrease of HA1/HA1, HA1/HA2 interactions and changes in tertiary structure not accompanied by changes in secondary structure.

Circular Dichroism↗

Studies on the structure of the influenza virus haemagglutinin at the pH of membrane fusion.

At the pH required to trigger the membrane fusion activity of the influenza virus haemagglutinin (HA) the soluble ectodomain of the molecule, BHA, which is released from virus by bromelain digestion, aggregates into rosettes. Analyses of soluble proteolytic fragments derived from the rosettes indicated that aggregation is mediated by association of the conserved hydrophobic amino-terminal region of BHA2, the smaller glycopolypeptide component of each BHA subunit. Further analyses of the structure of the soluble fragments and of HA in its low pH conformation by electron microscopy, spectroscopy and in crosslinking experiments showed that, although the membrane distal globular domains lose their trimer structure at the pH of fusion, the central fibrous stem of the molecule remains trimeric and assumes a more stable conformation. The increase in length of BHA2 at low pH observed microscopically appears to result from movement of the amino-terminal region to the membrane proximal end of the molecule and in virus incubated at low pH the amino terminus may insert into the virus membrane. The consequences of these possibilities for the mechanism of membrane fusion are discussed.

Bromelains↗

Membrane fusion by peptide analogues of influenza virus haemagglutinin.

We have studied the interactions of synthetic peptides corresponding to the sequence of the amino terminus of the HA2 subunit of influenza virus haemagglutinin with artificial lipid membranes. The peptides could fuse cholesterol-free liposomes at neutral as well as acid pH; however, liposomes containing cholesterol could only be fused below pH 6. The fusion process caused leakage of aqueous liposomal contents. Peptides with amino acid substitutions had fusion properties similar to whole haemagglutinin molecules with the corresponding sequence changes. Non-fusogenic peptides still interacted with the membrane but did not cause leakage of liposomal contents. A correlation between the alpha-helical content of peptide and its fusogenicity was noted, but this was not absolute. The results reported here support suggestions for a role of the amino terminus of HA2 in virus-endosome fusion.

Hemagglutinins, Viral↗

Electron microscopy of the low pH structure of influenza virus haemagglutinin.

Influenza virus haemagglutinin mediates infection of cells by fusion of viral and endosomal membranes, triggered by low pH which induces a conformational change in the protein. We report studies of this change by electron microscopy, neutron scattering, sedimentation and photon correlation on X-31 (H3N2) haemagglutinin, both intact and bromelain cleaved, in various assemblies. HAs in all preparations showed a thinning at low pH, and a marked elongation which was removed on tryptic digestion, revealing altered features in the remaining stem portion of the molecule. A tentative model of the change is proposed, with reference to the known X-ray structure at neutral pH, in which major changes occur in the stem tertiary structure, while the top portion is only affected in its quaternary structure.

Animals↗

Conformational changes in the hemagglutinin of influenza virus which accompany heat-induced fusion of virus with liposomes.

Incubation of X-31 influenza virus at 62 degrees results in changes in hemagglutinin structure which cause the virus to fuse with liposomes at neutral pH. Mutants of X-31 which contain different hemagglutinins and as a consequence fuse with liposomes at higher pH than wild-type virus also fuse at a lower temperature. The heat-induced changes in hemagglutinin structure were monitored by CD, fluorescence spectroscopy, electron microscopy, and proteolytic digestion and compared with the characteristic changes which occur at low pH required for hemagglutinin-mediated membrane fusion at physiological temperature. The results indicate that the heat-induced changes in hemagglutinin which allow fusion activity result in partial denaturation of the molecule. By comparison the changes in structure required for fusion at low pH and normal temperature are specifically restricted.

Hemagglutinins, Viral↗

Structure and composition of influenza virus. A small-angle neutron scattering study.

A detailed analysis is presented of the small-angle neutron scattering curves of homogeneous solutions of influenza B virus, both intact and after treatment with bromelain, which removes the external glycoprotein spikes. The two sets of data are consistent with the following low-resolution structure: the virus particles are spherical, about 1200 A in diameter and of Mr about 180 X 10(6). The lipid bilayer is centred at a radius of 425 A, is 40 A to 50 A thick and constitutes 25% to 28% of the virus mass. The surface glycoproteins, predominantly haemagglutinin, contribute 40% to 46% of the total mass. Surprisingly little protein is found in the interior of the virus. It is suggested that the reason for this is that many particles do not contain the full complement of ribonucleoprotein complexes. These results are in good agreement with recent scanning transmission electron microscopic measurements of molecular mass and cryo-electron microscopic observations of the same preparations. Appendix 1 describes a new method of deriving spherical shell models from contrast variation neutron scattering data on viruses, in which scattering curves from all measured contrasts are used simultaneously. There is also a discussion of the assumptions and limitations implicit in the structural interpretation of such models, with emphasis on viruses containing lipid bilayers. Appendix 2 examines the effect on the scattering curves of various arrangements of the surface glycoproteins.

Bromelains↗

Electron microscopy of influenza virus. A comparison of negatively stained and ice-embedded particles.

An electron microscopical study was made of the influenza virus, type B/Hong Kong, in the unstained, frozen, hydrated state after quench-freezing in cooled liquid ethane. The results are compared with data from negatively stained specimens. It is shown that cryo-electron microscopy confirms and extends the data obtained by conventional methods. In particular, the virus is shown to be circular in projection with no indication of icosahedral symmetry, the lipid membrane is clearly resolved as a bi-layer and it is demonstrated that the distribution of material within the bi-layer is non-uniform, with a shell of more electron dense material surrounding a less dense central region. Neuraminidase spikes are not clearly distinguished from haemaglutinin spikes. The diameter of the complete B/Hong Kong virus was estimated from cryo-micrographs as 1270(+/- 70) A. Some preliminary data for influenza virus type A/X31 are presented.

Freezing↗

Natural heterogeneity of shape, infectivity and protein composition in an influenza A (H3N2) virus preparation.

Influenza A (X31) virus was purified over a zonal sucrose gradient. The resulting gradient fractions were examined by electron microscopy, HA and infectivity titrations and gel electrophoresis. The fractions containing a homogeneous suspension of spherical particles had the highest infectivity per amount of viral protein and a much higher HA:M ratio than the unfractionated preparation. These results explain differences in the proportions of HA and M protein we have reported elsewhere on monodisperse virus suspensions compared with earlier measurements on crude suspensions.

Animals↗

Low resolution structure of the influenza C glycoprotein determined by electron microscopy.

The influenza C glycoprotein is clearly seen to be a trimer in specimens prepared with uranyl stains. Three-dimensional reconstructions from naturally occurring hexagonal arrays show that at low resolution (approximately 30 A) the influenza C glycoprotein exhibits similar features to the haemagglutinin glycoprotein of influenza A. Both have a triangular stalk near the membrane. Further from the membrane, the stalk becomes broader and the monomers more separated, leaving an open centre. The molecule narrows at the top. The regions of greatest contact between adjacent trimers in the arrays are situated nearer the distal end of the molecule. These contact zones can be related to equivalent zones on the influenza A haemagglutinin. Differences between the structure of the influenza A haemagglutinin glycoprotein determined by X-ray analysis and reconstructions of the influenza C glycoprotein are greatest at either end of the molecule, where the reconstructions are least reliable. Ordered glycoprotein arrays have not been observed on influenza C virions incubated at low pH. The staining patterns of glycoproteins on intact virions are essentially determined by the pH at which the virus is incubated, and the stain type, but not the pH of the stain.

Humans↗

Changes in the morphology of influenza particles induced at low pH.

At low pH influenza virus causes membrane fusion. This phenomenon is thought to reflect a part of the infection mechanism of the virus. To obtain more information on the effect of low pH on the virus, the change in morphology of influenza virus particles was studied by electron microscopy. Further, the degradation of haemagglutinin (HA) after trypsin digestion as a function of pH was studied by gel electrophoresis. The results showed that a threshold value existed below which both a change in morphology and an increase in trypsin sensitivity were observed. This threshold pH was found to be strain specific. A number of strains showed a heterogeneity in the particle population with respect to the threshold pH. The various subpopulations appeared to differ genetically. Virus particles with uncleaved precursor HA, HAo, were not effected by the low pH treatment.

Animals↗

The molecular mass of adenovirus type 5 as determined by means of scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM).

The mass of adenovirus type 5 was determined by means of computer-assisted scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). Arithmetic mean of 157 +/- 10(SD) X 10(6) daltons and mode between 160 and 170 X 10(6) daltons compare favourably with previously reported data. The advantages of the STEM-procedure over the physical and chemical techniques are: low amounts of purified virus particles are needed; visual control of the physical state of virus particles; no need to know the chemical composition or protein concentration of the virus sample.

Adenoviruses, Human↗

Characterization of three highly purified influenza virus strains by electron microscopy.

Mass determinations on highly purified influenza virus preparations were performed using the technique of scanning transmission electron microscopy. The masses of the three strains, X49, B/Singapore/222/79 and B/Hong Kong/8/73 were determined. The average value was 174 X 10(6) daltons with only small differences between the three strains. The mass of virus particles after removal of the protruding spike proteins, haemagglutinin and neuraminidase by bromelain treatment was determined to be 86 X 10(6) daltons. From the mass difference and the known molecular weight of the spike proteins the number of spikes was estimated to lie in the range 400 to 500.

Hemagglutinins, Viral↗

Liquid crystalline DNA in fowl adenovirus.

Fowl adenovirus particles were studied using negative stain electron microscopy. Upon preparation, some particles collapsed and showed their internal structure. The DNA could be observed as thin parallel lines with a spacing of 25 A, very similar to images of the liquid crystalline DNA in bacteriophage heads and in herpes virus.

Aviadenovirus↗

On the polymerization state of recA in the absence of DNA.

We present an electron microscopy study on the polymerization state of recA in the absence of DNA. In solution recA exists as monomers, small complexes not clearly longer than wide (approximately 9-18 nm), and filaments (diameter approximately 11 nm and variable lengths). We have attempted to quantify the relative amounts of these species by length measurements of the particles on electron micrographs. The percentages of each of these types was found to depend on recA concentration, temperature and presence in the incubation mixture of Mg2+, ATP gamma S, salt or D2O. These additives do not have an absolute effect on polymerization but rather shift the polymerization equilibrium of recA (which depends on recA concentration) up or down the concentration scale.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗