Analysis of bovine respiratory syncytial virus envelope glycoproteins in cell fusion

J Gen Virol. 1997 Aug:78 ( Pt 8):1885-9. doi: 10.1099/0022-1317-78-8-1885.

Abstract

To compare the requirements for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-mediated cell fusion, the fusion (F), attachment (G) and small hydrophobic (SH) glycoproteins of bovine RSV (BRSV), ovine RSV (ORSV) and human RSV (HRSV) were expressed individually or coexpressed in either homologous or heterologous combinations in HeLa cells, using the vaccinia virus-T7 polymerase transient expression system. Cell fusion was examined by a reporter gene activation assay. Although the expression of the F protein alone or coexpression of the F and G proteins or the F and SH proteins induced cell fusion, coexpression of F, G and SH proteins induced extensive cell fusion. Coexpression of various combinations of envelope glycoproteins of BRSV, ORSV and HRSV indicated that substitution of heterologous SH protein affects the effective fusigenic properties of the BRSV F protein far more than that obtained by substituting the heterologous G protein.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cattle
  • Cell Fusion / physiology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Viral
  • Genes, Viral
  • Glycoproteins / biosynthesis
  • Glycoproteins / physiology
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Oligodeoxyribonucleotides
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Bovine / physiology*
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human / physiology
  • Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / physiology*
  • Sheep
  • Transcriptional Activation
  • Transfection
  • Viral Envelope Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Viral Envelope Proteins / physiology*
  • Viral Fusion Proteins / physiology
  • Viral Matrix Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Viral Matrix Proteins / genetics
  • beta-Galactosidase / biosynthesis

Substances

  • Glycoproteins
  • Oligodeoxyribonucleotides
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Viral Envelope Proteins
  • Viral Fusion Proteins
  • Viral Matrix Proteins
  • beta-Galactosidase