title: Composition of the helical internal components of influenza virus as revealed by immunogold labeling/electron microscopy.
abstract: The composition of the large helical internal components of influenza virus was investigated by immunogold labeling/electron microscopy with antibodies to the nucleoprotein (NP), matrix protein (M), and polymerase complex (PB1, PB2, and PA) of the virus. The morphologically intact helices, obtained by air-drying of the virions on the electron microscope grid, showed little or no labeling with any of the above antibodies. However, partial to full degradation of the helix by proteinase K (2 ng/ml) prior to immunogold labeling made the helices accessible to all three antibodies. The results are consistent with a model that the helix represents a polymer of M protein enclosing or containing the influenza ribonucleoprotein(s).
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology and Molecular Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38101-0318.
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Murti
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Bean
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Webster
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D019590:Nucleocapsid Proteins; D009698:Nucleoproteins; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D019590:Nucleocapsid Proteins; D009698:Nucleoproteins; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins; D014758:Viral Core Proteins; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases