Binding of transmissible gastroenteritis coronavirus to brush border membrane sialoglycoproteins.
Transmissible gastroenteritis coronavirus (TGEV) is a porcine pathogen causing enteric infections that are lethal for suckling piglets. The enterotropism of TGEV is connected with the sialic acid binding activity of the viral surface protein S. Here we show that, among porcine intestinal brush border membrane proteins, TGEV recognizes a mucin-type glycoprotein designated MGP in a sialic acid-dependent fashion. Virus binding assays with cryosections of the small intestine from a suckling piglet revealed the binding of TGEV to mucin-producing goblet cells. A nonenteropathogenic mutant virus that lacked a sialic acid binding activity was unable to bind to MGP and to attach to goblet cells. Our results suggest a role of MGP in the enteropathogenicity of TGEV.
Schwegmann-Wessels
Christel
C
Institut für Virologie, Tierärztliche Hochschule Hannover, 30559 Hannover, Germany. Christel.Schwegmann@tiho-hannover.de
Zimmer
Gert
G
Schröder
Bernd
B
Breves
Gerhard
G
Herrler
Georg
G
D000818:Animals; D000833:Animals, Suckling; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000821:virology*; D005761:Gastroenteritis, Transmissible, of Swine / Q000821:virology; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000821:virology*; D008871:Microvilli / Q000737:chemistry / Q000821:virology*; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D013552:Swine; D005760:Transmissible gastroenteritis virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000472:pathogenicity
D012795:Sialoglycoproteins