Beta 2 microglobulin on the envelope of urinary cytomegalovirus is not associated with host class I human leukocyte antigen alpha chain.
Previous studies have shown that beta 2 microglobulin (beta 2m) is associated with glycoproteins present on the envelope of urinary human cytomegalovirus (CMV). beta 2m is non-covalently associated with the alpha chain of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I antigens and therefore it was of interest to determine whether the class I alpha chain is also associated with the beta 2m-CMV complex. Using a panel of monoclonal antibodies recognizing different conformational determinants on the HLA class I heterodimer or free beta 2m, we have shown that beta 2m but not the alpha chain of HLA class I could be immunoprecipitated from 125I-surface-labelled virions purified directly from urine. We therefore conclude that host class I HLA alpha chains are not associated with beta 2m on the envelope of urinary CMV.
Department of Virology, Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, London, U.K.
J S
JS
Rose
J E
JE
Grundy
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000737:chemistry*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D005805:Genes, MHC Class I; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D014556:Urine / Q000382:microbiology*; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000939:Epitopes; D006680:HLA Antigens; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin