Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Role of membrane phospholipids and glycolipids in the Vero cell surface receptor for rubella virus

  • Original Investigations
  • Published:
Medical Microbiology and Immunology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Membrane receptors for rubella virus (RV) in Vero cells were studied by means of two different approaches: (i) by enzyme treatment of the whole cell membrane and (ii) by testing the ability of isolated plasma membrane molecules to compete with cells for virus binding. The replication of RV was studied with both indirect immunofluorescence assay and molecular hybridization techniques. Phospholipases A2 and C digestion of cells greatly reduced the infectivity by the virus, pointing towards the involvement of lipid structures as receptor sites for RV. Furthermore, susceptibility of Vero cells to virus infection was also reduced after β-N-acetyl-d-glucosaminidase, α-glucosidase and β-galactosidase treatment, suggesting that carbohydrate residues may participate in a complex cellular receptor structure for RV. When the major membrane lipids were examined separately for their ability to inhibit viral infectivity, several phospholipids (phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, sphingomyelin) and glycolipids (gangliosides, lactosylceramide, cerebroside sulphate) showed a strong neutralizing activity, confirming the role of membrane lipid moiety in the cell surface receptor for RV.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Aminoff D (1959) The determination of free sialic acid in the presence of the bound compound. Virology 7:355–357

    Google Scholar 

  2. Banatvala JE, Best JM (1984) Rubella. In: Brown F, Wilson G (eds) Topley and Wilson's principles of bacteriology, virology and immunology, vol 4. 7th edn. Edward Arnold, London, pp 271–302

    Google Scholar 

  3. Best JM, Banatvala JE (1987) Rubella. In: Zuckerman AJ, Banatvala JE, Pattison JR (eds) Principles and practice of clinical virology. John Wiley and Sons, New York, pp 315–353

    Google Scholar 

  4. Cremer NE, Oshiro LS, Weil LM, Lennette EH, Itabashi HH, Carnay L (1975) Isolation of rubella virus from brain in chronic progressive panencephalitis. J Gen Virol 29:143–151

    Google Scholar 

  5. Dubois M, Giles KA, Hamilton JK, Rebers PA, Smith F (1956) Colorimetric method for determination of sugars and related substances. Anal Chem 28:350–356

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Gahmberg CG (1981) Membrane glycoproteins and glycolipids: structure, localization and function of the carbohydrate. In: Finean JB, Michell RH, (eds) New comprehensive biochemistry, vol 1. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 127–160

    Google Scholar 

  7. Gillespie D, Bresser J (1981) mRNA immobilization in NaI: quick blots. Biotechnologies 6:184–190

    Google Scholar 

  8. Green KY, Dorsett PH (1986) Rubella virus antigens: localization of epitopes involved in hemagglutination and neutralization by using monoclonal antibodies. J Virol 57:893–898

    Google Scholar 

  9. Herrmann KL (1979) Rubella virus. In: Lennette EH, Schmidt NJ (eds) Diagnostic procedures for viral, rickettsial and chlamidial infections, 5th edn. American Public Health Association, Washington D.C., pp 725–766

    Google Scholar 

  10. Ho-Terry L, Terry GM, Cohen A, Londesborough P (1986) Immunological characterization of the rubella El glycoprotein. Arch Virol 90:145–152

    Google Scholar 

  11. Hunt RC, Moore NF (1980) Carbohydrates in cell membranes. In: Blough HA, Tiffany JM (eds) Cell membranes and viral envelopes, vol 1. Academic Press, London, pp 277–329

    Google Scholar 

  12. Lonberg-Holm K, Philipson L (1974) Attachment of virions to host cells. Monogr Virol 9:24–49

    Google Scholar 

  13. Lowry OH, Rosebrough NJ, Farr AL, Randall RJ (1951) Protein measurement with the Folin phenol reagent. J Biol Chem 193:265–275

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Mastromarino P, Cioè L, Rieti S, Orsi N (1989) Binding sites for rubella virus on erythrocyte membrane. Arch Virol 107:15–26

    Google Scholar 

  15. Nunoue T, Goya N (1977) Nuclear and cytoplasmic immunofluorescence in CSF cells from neonate with congenital rubella. Microbiol Immunol 21:731–741

    Google Scholar 

  16. Ogra PL, Ogra SS, Chiba Y, Dzierba JL (1975) Rubella virus infection in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Lancet I 1157–1162

    Google Scholar 

  17. Oker-Blom C, Veman I, Kääriäinen L, Petterson R (1983) Rubella virus 40 S genome RNA specifies a 24 S subgenomic mRNA that codes for a precursor to structural proteins. J Virol 9:403–408

    Google Scholar 

  18. Seganti L, Mastromarino P, Superti F, Sinibaldi L, Orsi N (1981) Receptors for BK virus on human erythrocytes. Acta Virol 25:177–181

    Google Scholar 

  19. Shen L, Ginsburg V (1968) Release of sugars from HeLA cells by trypsin. In: Manson LA (ed) Biological properties of the mammalian surface membrane. Wistar Institute Press, Philadelphia, pp 67–71

    Google Scholar 

  20. Thomas PS (1980) Hybridization of denatured RNA and small DNA fragments transferred to nitrocellulose. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 77:5201–5205

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Waxham MN, Wolinsky JS (1985) A model of the structural organization of rubella virions. Rev Infect Dis [Suppl] 7:133–139

    Google Scholar 

  22. Waxham MN, Wolinsky JS (1985) Detailed immunologie analysis of the structural polypeptides of rubella virus using monoclonal antibodies. Virology 143:153–165

    Google Scholar 

  23. Woods WA, Johnson RT, Hostetler DD, Lepow ML, Robbins FC (1966) Immunofluorescent studies on rubella-infected tissue cultures and human tissues. J Immunol 96:253–262

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Piazzale Aldo Moro, 5, I-00185, Rome, Italy

    P. Mastromarino, S. Rieti & N. Orsi

  2. Institute of Virology, School of Medicine, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Piazzale Aldo Moro, 5, I-00185, Rome, Italy

    L. Cioè

Authors
  1. P. Mastromarino
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. L. Cioè
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. S. Rieti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. N. Orsi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Mastromarino, P., Cioè, L., Rieti, S. et al. Role of membrane phospholipids and glycolipids in the Vero cell surface receptor for rubella virus. Med Microbiol Immunol 179, 105–114 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00198531

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00198531

Keywords

Search

Navigation