Hydrophobic viruses

The phenomenon of viral adsorption to various surfaces was extensively studied from an environmental standpoint as reviewed by Daniels (14) and Gerba (15) for prevention of various waterborne viral transmissions. The problem of virus removal from complex protein solutions is very different from that of sewage and drinking water treatment processes because most protein molecules compete for the active sites of the adsorbents. Hence, both the adsorption rate and capacity diminish in the presence of protein molecules (16). It is the intention of this paper to demonstrate and to compare the antiviral activity of a surface-bonded QAC in aqueous solutions against 2 model viruses with and without the presence of proteins. The efficacy of the accepted antiviral thermo-inactivation was compared with the viral inactivation method by the surface-bonded QAC treatment. Beta-lactamase was used as a thermolabile model protein (17), and bacteriophage T2 and herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1, an enveloped animal virus) were used as model hydrophilic and hydrophobic viruses to test these chemical inactivation methods. 

The canonical jelly roll barrel is schematically illustrated in Figure 16.13. Superposition of the structures of coat proteins from different viruses show that the eight p strands of the jelly roll barrel form a conserved core. This is illustrated in Figure 16.14, which shows structural diagrams of three different coat proteins. These diagrams also show that the p strands are clearly arranged in two sheets of four strands each P strands 1, 8, 3, and 6 form one sheet and strands 2, 7, 4, and 5 form the second sheet. Hydrophobic residues from these sheets pack inside the barrel. 

In rhino viruses there are depressions, or "canyons," which are 25 A deep and 12 to 30 A wide and which encircle the protrusions (Figure 16.15b). One wall of the canyons is lined by residues from the base of VPl. The structure of VPl is such that the barrel is open at the base and permits access to the hydrophobic interior of the barrel, as in the up-and-down barrel structure of the retinol-binding protein described in Chapter 5. 

Fig. 7 The influenza virus A sialidase active site showing the five potential inhibitor binding subsites (with S5 containing the hydrophobic pocket formed by reorientation of the Glu276 side-chain), with oseltamivir carboxylate 18 placed in the active site...

The majority of NNRTIs share common conformational properties and structural features that allow them to fit into an asymmetric, hydrophobic pocket about 10 A away from the catalytic site of the HlV-1 RT, where they act as non-competitive inhibitors (Kohlstaedt et al. 1992). However, the NNRTIs select for mutant virus strains with several degrees of dmg resistance. 

Some attempts have been made to rationally increase the efficiency of endosomal escape. One such avenue entails the incorporation of selected hydrophobic (viral) peptides into the gene delivery systems. Many viruses naturally enter animal cells via receptor-mediated endocytosis. These viruses have evolved efficient means of endosomal escape, usually relying upon membrane-disrupting peptides derived from the viral coat proteins. 

If the virus is treated with proteolytic enzymes the fuzzy layer formed by the viral spikes is removed (Osterrieth, 1965 Compans, 1971 Gahm-berg et al, 1972 Sefton and Gaffney, 1974 Utermann and Simons, 1974). Remnants of both El and E2 are left in the bilayer. These have a hydrophobic amino acid composition, and are soluble in lipid solvents such as chloroform-methanol. The amphiphilic nature of the spike protein is also evident from its capacity to bind Triton X-100 (0.6 g/g protein) which binds to the hydrophobic part to form a water-soluble protein-detergent complex (Simons et al., 1973a). The ability of amphiphilic proteins to bind Triton can be used to separate them from hydrophilic proteins using an extraction procedure recendy described... 

The amino acid sequences of haptides comprise hydrophobic and cationic residues with a net charge of +4 to +5 per 19 to 21 amino acids. It was proposed that haptides could be attracted to the anionic liposomes as well as the anionic cell membrane and that the hydrophobic properties of the haptide facilitate membrane translocation (106). Haptide uptake was reported to be energy independent, occurring at 4°C. The advantage of this peptide compared to CPP such as TAT and Antp, is that, unlike the virus-derived peptides, the haptides are not recognized as foreign antigens and do not induce cell transformation (106). However, haptides have also been found to accelerate fibrin clot formation and lack cell specificity (106). 

HRVs are non-enveloped viruses of icosahedral overall shape [44]. Located on the exterior of the viral capsid are three structural proteins (VPl, VP2 and VP3), each consisting of an eight-stranded antiparallel -barrel. VP4 is found at the interface with the RNA inside the virus. A pocket factor is usually bound to a hydrophobic canyon binding site within the VPl -barrel. This lipid-like molecule is important for the stability of the capsid and has been... 

Membrane translocation domains have been identified in toxins and viruses and derived from signal sequences of secreted proteins. When derived from a signal seqnence the translocation domain contains hydrophobic sequences [146-148] while the toxin and viral translocation domains contain mostly basic residues [149,150]. 

Membrane proteins (which make up approximately one-third of the total number of known proteins) are responsible for many of the important properties and functions of biological systems. They transport ions and molecules across the membrane they act as receptors and they have roles in the assembly, fusion, and structure of cells and viruses. Presently, investigating membrane proteins is one of the most difficult challenges in the area of structural biology and biophysical chemistry. Our knowledge of membrane proteins is limited, primarily because it is very difficult to crystallize these protein systems due to the extreme hydrophobic interactions between the proteins and the membrane. New methods are needed and current techniques need to be extended to study the structural properties of membrane proteins. 

As opposed to vapor, it is necessary to differentiate between hydrophilic and hydrophobic solids. This also applies to bacteria and viruses since they are transported primarily in solutions. ... 

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