Sialic acid residue

Figure S.21 The hemaggiutinin moiecuie is formed from three subunits. Each of these subunits Is anchored In the membrane of the influenza vims. The globular heads contain the receptor sites that bind to sialic acid residues on the surface of eukaryotic cells. A major part of the subunit interface is formed by the three long intertwining helices, one from each subunit. (Adapted from I. Wilson et al.. Nature 289 366-373, 1981.)...

In addition to binding to sialic acid residues of the carbohydrate side chains of cellular proteins that the virus exploits as receptors, hemagglutinin has a second function in the infection of host cells. Viruses, bound to the plasma membrane via their membrane receptors, are taken into the cells by endocytosis. Proton pumps in the membrane of endocytic vesicles that now contain the bound viruses cause an accumulation of protons and a consequent lowering of the pH inside the vesicles. The acidic pH (below pH 6) allows hemagglutinin to fulfill its second role, namely, to act as a membrane fusogen by inducing the fusion of the viral envelope membrane with the membrane of the endosome. This expels the viral RNA into the cytoplasm, where it can begin to replicate. 

FIGURE 9.30 Progressive cleavage of sialic acid residues exposes galactose residues. Binding to the asialoglycoprotein receptor in the liver becomes progressively more likely as more Gal residues are exposed. 

Figure 1.35 The complex structure of an asparagine-linked polysaccharide. Note the branched nature of polymer with terminal sialic acid residues on each chain. 

Oxidation of polysaccharides using 10 mM or greater concentrations of sodium periodate at room temperature results in the cleavage of adjacent hydroxyl-containing carbon-carbon bonds on other sugars besides just sialic acid residues (Lotan et al., 1975). High concentrations... 

Add 106-108cells/ml in a PBS solution (lOmM sodium phosphate, 0.15M NaCl, pFI 7.4) containing ImM sodium periodate and incubate on ice for 30 minutes in the dark. This level of periodate addition will target the oxidation only to sialic acid residues (Chapter 1, Section 4.4). If additional sites of glycosylation also are to be labeled, increase the periodate concentration to 10 mM and do the reaction at room temperature in the dark. 

Dissolve the glycoprotein(s) to be labeled in ice-cold ImM sodium periodate, lOmM sodium phosphate, 0.15 M NaCl, pH 7.4, for the exclusive oxidation of sialic acid residues. For general carbohydrate oxidation, increase the periodate concentration to 10 mM in PBS at room temperature. 

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