title: The influence of dextran sulfate on influenza A virus fusion with erythrocyte membranes.
abstract: Dextran sulfate suppresses the low pH-induced fusion of influenza virus A/Brazil 11/78 with erythrocyte membranes, as shown by fluorescence dequenching assay, using the fluorophore octadecylrhodamine B chloride (R18). Inhibition of fusion was maximal at pH 5.0, while at higher pH values (> 5.6) fusion was not affected. Hemolysis of intact red blood cells by influenza A virus at low pH values is also prevented by dextran sulfate. The inhibiting effect of the polymer is mainly ascribed to repression of virus attachment. Evidence is given that the conformational change of the virus envelope protein hemagglutinin (HA) responsible for triggering fusion is not affected by the polymer.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Biophysik, Fachbereich Biologie, Humboldt-Universität Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Herrmann
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Korte
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Arnold
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hillebrecht
mesh_terms: D000817:Anilino Naphthalenesulfonates / Q000378:metabolism; D016264:Dextran Sulfate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000378:metabolism; D006388:Hemagglutinins / Q000737:chemistry; D006461:Hemolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008561:Membrane Fusion / Q000187:drug effects*; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D011487:Protein Conformation
chemical_list: D000817:Anilino Naphthalenesulfonates; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006388:Hemagglutinins; C035763:5,5'-bis(8-(phenylamino)-1-naphthalenesulfonate); D016264:Dextran Sulfate