Biomaterial Database

Fatty acids on the A/Japan/305/57 influenza virus hemagglutinin have a role in membrane fusion. 1990

C W Naeve, and D Williams

Department of Virology and Molecular Biology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38101.

The covalent attachment of fatty acid moieties to proteins is a widespread post-translational modification of viral and cell proteins yet the functional consequences of acylation are not well understood. We have determined that the A/Japan/305/57 influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) contains three potential acylation sites at cysteine residues 211, 218 and 221 in the cytoplasmic domain of the molecule. Site-directed mutagenesis of one or more of these sites has no effect on biosynthesis, transport or receptor binding activity of the molecule; however, modification of any single site is sufficient to abolish completely or inhibit severely membrane fusion activity, a function essential for virus infectivity. We present a molecular model of the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains of the HA to illustrate the potential orientation of these fatty acids and to provide a conceptual framework for further experimentation.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008051	Lipid Bilayers	Layers of lipid molecules which are two molecules thick. Bilayer systems are frequently studied as models of biological membranes.	Bilayers, Lipid,Bilayer, Lipid,Lipid Bilayer
D008561	Membrane Fusion	The adherence and merging of cell membranes, intracellular membranes, or artificial membranes to each other or to viruses, parasites, or interstitial particles through a variety of chemical and physical processes.	Fusion, Membrane,Fusions, Membrane,Membrane Fusions
D008958	Models, Molecular	Models used experimentally or theoretically to study molecular shape, electronic properties, or interactions; includes analogous molecules, computer-generated graphics, and mechanical structures.	Molecular Models,Model, Molecular,Molecular Model
D008969	Molecular Sequence Data	Descriptions of specific amino acid, carbohydrate, or nucleotide sequences which have appeared in the published literature and/or are deposited in and maintained by databanks such as GENBANK, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), National Biomedical Research Foundation (NBRF), or other sequence repositories.	Sequence Data, Molecular,Molecular Sequencing Data,Data, Molecular Sequence,Data, Molecular Sequencing,Sequencing Data, Molecular
D009980	Influenza A virus	The type species of the genus ALPHAINFLUENZAVIRUS that causes influenza and other diseases in humans and animals. Antigenic variation occurs frequently between strains, allowing classification into subtypes and variants. Transmission is usually by aerosol (human and most non-aquatic hosts) or waterborne (ducks). Infected birds shed the virus in their saliva, nasal secretions, and feces.	Alphainfluenzavirus influenzae,Avian Orthomyxovirus Type A,FLUAV,Fowl Plague Virus,Human Influenza A Virus,Influenza Virus Type A,Influenza Viruses Type A,Myxovirus influenzae-A hominis,Myxovirus influenzae-A suis,Myxovirus pestis galli,Orthomyxovirus Type A,Orthomyxovirus Type A, Avian,Orthomyxovirus Type A, Human,Orthomyxovirus Type A, Porcine,Pestis galli Myxovirus,Fowl Plague Viruses,Influenza A viruses,Myxovirus influenzae A hominis,Myxovirus influenzae A suis,Myxovirus, Pestis galli,Myxoviruses, Pestis galli,Pestis galli Myxoviruses,Plague Virus, Fowl,Virus, Fowl Plague
D010169	Palmitic Acids	A group of 16-carbon fatty acids that contain no double bonds.	Acids, Palmitic
D011487	Protein Conformation	The characteristic 3-dimensional shape of a protein, including the secondary, supersecondary (motifs), tertiary (domains) and quaternary structure of the peptide chain. PROTEIN STRUCTURE, QUATERNARY describes the conformation assumed by multimeric proteins (aggregates of more than one polypeptide chain).	Conformation, Protein,Conformations, Protein,Protein Conformations
D011499	Protein Processing, Post-Translational	Any of various enzymatically catalyzed post-translational modifications of PEPTIDES or PROTEINS in the cell of origin. These modifications include carboxylation; HYDROXYLATION; ACETYLATION; PHOSPHORYLATION; METHYLATION; GLYCOSYLATION; ubiquitination; oxidation; proteolysis; and crosslinking and result in changes in molecular weight and electrophoretic motility.	Amino Acid Modification, Post-Translational,Post-Translational Modification,Post-Translational Protein Modification,Posttranslational Modification,Protein Modification, Post-Translational,Amino Acid Modification, Posttranslational,Post-Translational Amino Acid Modification,Post-Translational Modifications,Post-Translational Protein Processing,Posttranslational Amino Acid Modification,Posttranslational Modifications,Posttranslational Protein Processing,Protein Processing, Post Translational,Protein Processing, Posttranslational,Amino Acid Modification, Post Translational,Modification, Post-Translational,Modification, Post-Translational Protein,Modification, Posttranslational,Modifications, Post-Translational,Modifications, Post-Translational Protein,Modifications, Posttranslational,Post Translational Amino Acid Modification,Post Translational Modification,Post Translational Modifications,Post Translational Protein Modification,Post Translational Protein Processing,Post-Translational Protein Modifications,Processing, Post-Translational Protein,Processing, Posttranslational Protein,Protein Modification, Post Translational,Protein Modifications, Post-Translational
D002460	Cell Line	Established cell cultures that have the potential to propagate indefinitely.	Cell Lines,Line, Cell,Lines, Cell
D003196	Computer Graphics	The process of pictorial communication, between human and computers, in which the computer input and output have the form of charts, drawings, or other appropriate pictorial representation.	Computer Graphic,Graphic, Computer,Graphics, Computer