Protease digestion of hepatitis A virus: disparate effects on capsid proteins, antigenicity, and infectivity

J Virol. 1991 Oct;65(10):5636-40. doi: 10.1128/JVI.65.10.5636-5640.1991.

Abstract

High concentrations of either trypsin or chymotrypsin caused nearly complete cleavage of capsid protein VP2 of hepatitis A virus but did not significantly reduce the infectivity, thermostability, or antigenicity of the virus. Chymotrypsin also had a lesser effect on VP1. These findings indicate the presence of a protease-accessible VP2 surface site which neither contributes significantly to the dominant antigenic site nor plays a role in the attachment of the virus to putative cell receptors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antigens, Viral / analysis
  • Capsid / metabolism*
  • Capsid Proteins
  • Cell Line
  • Chymotrypsin / pharmacology
  • Endopeptidases / pharmacology*
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Hepatovirus / drug effects
  • Hepatovirus / immunology
  • Hepatovirus / physiology*
  • Hot Temperature
  • Kinetics
  • Trypsin / metabolism
  • Trypsin / pharmacology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antigens, Viral
  • Capsid Proteins
  • Endopeptidases
  • Chymotrypsin
  • Trypsin