Vesicular stomatitis virus-mediated cell fusion subsequent to virus adsorption at different pH values.
Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV)-mediated cell fusion from without can be induced by transient exposure to low pH, subsequent to adsorption of VSV at neutral pH. To study the mechanism of VSV-induced cell fusion, we examined the effect of pH condition at virus adsorption on acid-inducible VSV-mediated cell fusion. Although the binding of VSV to BHK-21 cells was most efficient under acidic condition (pH 5.7-6.3), extensive cell fusion was not observed under this condition. A temporary exposure to low pH after binding at neutral pH also decreased fusion activity. However, return to neutral pH for 2 min just after the acid binding restored the fusion activity. These results indicate the requirement of neutral pH condition for VSV-mediated cell fusion prior to the acid stimulation which induces conformational change of the virus glycoprotein into a fusogenic form.
Nagata
S
S
Department of Pathology, National Institute of Health, Tokyo.
Kurata
T
T
Ueno
Y
Y
Chiba
J
J
D000327:Adsorption; D000818:Animals; D002459:Cell Fusion / Q000502:physiology*; D002460:Cell Line; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008561:Membrane Fusion / Q000502:physiology; D014721:Vesicular stomatitis Indiana virus / Q000502:physiology*