Microviscosity of togavirus membranes studied by fluorescence depolarization: influence of envelope proteins and the host cell

N. F. Moore, Y. Barenholz, R. R. Wagner

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

35 Scopus citations

Abstract

The microviscosities of the hydrophobic regions of the membranes of intact Semliki forest and Sindbis viruses grown on BHK 21 cells, of liposomes derived from the extracted viral lipids, and of protease treated virions were measured by fluorescence depolarization using the fluorescence probe 1,6 diphenyl 1,3,5 hexatriene. The intact virus membranes were found to have a higher microviscosity than did virus derived liposomes, indicating that viral envelope proteins contribute to microviscosity. However, protease treated virus, devoid of protruding spikes but with residual lipophilic peptide tails, was found to have a microviscosity more similar to that of the intact virus than to that of protein free liposomes. Sindbis virus grown in BHK 21 cells at 37 C had a much higher microviscosity than did Sindbis virus grown on Aedes albopictus cells at 22 C. Sindbis virus grown in A. albopictus and BHK 21 cells also gave higher microviscosity values than did the intact host cells. These data indicate that both the virion proteins and the cellular lipids selected during viral growth and maturation contribute to the increased microviscosity of togavirus membranes.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)126-135
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Virology
Volume19
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1976
Externally publishedYes

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