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Transmissible gastroenteritis coronavirus (TGEV) is a prototype enteropathogenic coronavirus that causes diarrhea in pigs of all ages. While adult animals usually recover, newborn piglets generally die from the intestinal infection (14). TGEV is an enveloped virus with three proteins inserted into the viral membrane: S (220 kDa), M (29 to 36 kDa), and E (10 kDa), a minor protein. The S protein plays a key role in the initial stage of infection. It mediates binding of the virus to the cell surface and the subsequent fusion between the viral and cellular membranes. Two binding activities have been assigned to the S protein. Binding to porcine aminopeptidase N, a cellular receptor for TGEV, is a prerequisite for infection of cells (5). A second binding activity enables TGEV to recognize sialic acid residues and attach to sialoglycoconjugates (18). As a consequence of the latter binding activity, TGEV can agglutinate erythrocytes (11, 12). The binding site for aminopeptidase N and the binding site for sialic acid are located on different portions of the S protein (18). Recent studies with mutants of TGEV indicated that a short stretch of amino acids (145 to 209) is important for the recognition of sialic acids (8). Some of the mutants had been selected for resistance to a monoclonal antibody. Interestingly, the point mutations that were responsible for the lack of antibody reactivity also resulted in the concomitant loss of both hemagglutinating activity and enteropathogenicity (8). These results indicated not only that the respective amino acids are located at or close to the sialic acid binding site but also that the sialic acid binding activity is correlated with the enteropathogenicity of TGEV. Other factors may also be required to render TGEV enteropathogenic, but they have not been identified in terms of a molecular interaction. The importance of the sialic acid binding activity for enteropathogenicity is supported by data reported for porcine respiratory coronavirus (PRCoV), which is closely related to TGEV. This virus replicates with high efficiency in the respiratory tract but with very low efficiency in the gut (4). Like the mutants mentioned above, PRCoV has no hemagglutinating activity (18). In the case of PRCoV, the lack of a sialic acid binding activity is explained by a large deletion in the S gene that results in a truncated spike protein (15, 16). The point mutations that resulted in the loss of hemagglutinating activity and enteropathogenicity are located in that portion of the S protein that is present in the TGEV S protein but absent from the PRCoV S protein. Here we report that the ability of TGEV to attach to sialoglycoconjugates affects the physical state of virus particles. TGEV with a functional sialic acid binding activity was recovered from sucrose gradients at higher densities than PRCoV or mutants of TGEV with a defect in the sialic acid binding site. The difference in sedimentation behavior was also observed with solubilized S protein. It was abolished after neuraminidase treatment of virions, suggesting that bound sialoglycoproteins are responsible for the different sedimentation characteristics. (Part of this work was done by C.K. in partial fullfilment of the requirements for the Dr. rerum physiologicarum degree at Philipps-Universitat Marburg, Marburg, Germany.)

Transmissible gastroenteritis coronavirus (TGEV) agglutinates erythrocytes of several species by virtue of sialic acid binding activity of the surface protein S. We have isolated and characterized five haemagglutination-defective (HAD) mutants. In contrast to the parental virus, the mutants were unable to bind to porcine submandibulary mucin, a substrate rich in sialic acid. Each of the mutants was found to contain a single point mutation in the S protein (Cys155Phe, Met195Val, Arg196Ser, Asp208Asn or Leu209Pro), indicating that these amino acids are affecting the sialic acid binding site. In four of the HAD mutants a nearby antigenic site is affected in addition to the sialic acid binding site, as indicated by reactivity with monoclonal antibodies. The parental virus was found to have an increased resistance to the detergent octylglucoside compared to the HAD mutants. This effect depended on cellular sialoglycoconjugates bound to the virion. If the binding of sialylated macromolecules was prevented by neuraminidase treatment, the parental virus was as sensitive to octylglucoside as were the HAD mutants. We discuss the possibility that the sialic acid binding activity helps TGEV to resist detergent-like substances encountered during the gastrointestinal passage and thus facilitates the infection of the intestinal epithelium. An alternative function of the sialic acid binding activity – accessory binding to intestinal tissues – is also discussed.

A synthetic sialic acid, N -acetyl-9-thioacetamidoneuraminic acid (9-ThioAcNeu5Ac), is recognized by influenza C virus as a receptor determinant but—in contrast to the natural receptor determinant, N -acetyl-9- O -acetylneuraminic acid—is resistant to inactivation by the viral acetylesterase. This sialic acid analog was used to analyze the importance of the receptor-destroying enzyme of influenza C virus in keeping the viral surface free of receptor determinants. Enzymatic transfer of 9-ThioAcNeu5Ac to the surface of influenza C virions resulted in the loss of the hemagglutinating activity. The ability to agglutinate erythrocytes was restored when the synthetic sialic acid was released from the viral surface by neuraminidase treatment. Infectivity of influenza C virus containing surface-bound 9-ThioAcNeu5Ac was reduced about 20-fold. Sedimentation analysis as well as electron microscopy indicated that virions resialylated with the esterase-resistant sialic acid analog formed virus aggregates. These results indicate that the receptor-destroying enzyme of influenza C virus is required to avoid the presence of receptor determinants on the virion surface and thus to prevent aggregate formation and a reduction of the infectious titer.

Influenza C virus is able to inactivate its own cellular receptors by virtue of a sialate 9-O-acetylesterase that releases the acetyl residue at position C-9 of N-accetyl-9-O-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5,9Ac2). The receptor-destroying enzyme activity is a function of the surface glycoprotein HEF and this esterase belongs to the class of serine hydrolases. In their active site, these enzymes contain a catalytic triad made up of a serine, a histidine and an aspartic acid residue. Sequence comparison with other serine esterases has indicated that, in addition to serine-71 (S71), the amino acids histidine-368 or -369 (H368/369) and aspartic acid 261 (D261) are the most likely candidates to form the catalytic triad of the influenza C virus glycoprotein. By site-directed mutagenesis, mutants were generated in which alanine substituted for either of these amino acids. Using a phagemid expression vector, pSP1D-HEF the HEF gene was expressed in both COS 7 and MDCK I cells. The glycoprotein was obtained in a functional form only in the latter cells, as indicated by its transport to the cell surface and measurable enzyme activity. The low level of expression could be increased by stimulating the NF-κB-binding activity of the cytomegalovirus immediate-early promoter/enhancer element of the vector. The esterase activity of the mutant proteins was compared with that of the wild-type glycoprotein. With Neu5,9Ac2 as the substrate, the esterase specific activities of the S71/A mutant and the H368,369/A mutant were reduced by more than 90%. In the case of the D261/A mutant the specific activity was reduced by 64%. From this data we conclude that S71, H368/369 and D261 are likely to represent the catalytic triad of the influenza C virus glycoprotein HEF. In addition, N280 is proposed to stabilize the oxyanion of the presumptive transition state intermediate formed by the enzyme-substrate complex.

From strain JHB/1/66 of influenza C virus a mutant was derived with a change in the cell tropism. The mutant was able to grow in a subline of Madin-Darby canine kidney cells (MDCK II) which is resistant to infection by the parent virus due to a lack of receptors. Inactivation of cellular receptors by either neuraminidase or acetylesterase and generation of receptors by resialylation of cells with N-acetyl-9-O-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5,9Ac2) indicated that 9-O-acetylated sialic acid is a receptor determinant for both parent and mutant virus. However, the mutant required less Neu5,9Ac2 on the cell surface for virus attachment than the parent virus. The increased binding efficiency enabled the mutant to infect cells with a low content of 9-O-acetylated sialic acid which were resistant to the parent virus. By comparing the nucleotide sequences of the glycoprotein (HEF) genes of the parent and the mutant virus only a single point mutation could be identified on the mutant gene. This mutation at nucleotide position 872 causes an amino acid exchange from threonine to isoleucine at position 284 on the amino acid sequence. Sequence similarity with a stretch of amino acids involved in the receptor-binding pocket of the influenza A hemagglutinin suggests that the mutation site on the influenza C glycoprotein (HEF) is part of the receptor-binding site.

The S protein of bovine coronavirus (BCV) has been isolated from the viral membrane and purified by gradient centrifugation. Purified S protein was identified as a viral hemagglutinin. Inactivation of the cellular receptors by sialate 9-O-acetylesterase and generation of receptors by sialylation of erythrocytes with N-acetyl-9-O-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5,9Ac2) indicate that S protein recognizes 9-O-acetylated sialic acid as a receptor determinant as has been shown previously for intact virions. The second glycoprotein of BCV, HE, which has been thought previously to be responsible for the hemagglutinating activity of BCV, is a less efficient hemagglutinin; it agglutinates mouse and rat erythrocytes, but in contrast to S protein, it is unable to agglutinate chicken erythrocytes, which contain a lower level of Neu5,9Ac2 on their surface. S protein is proposed to be responsible for the primary attachment of virus to cell surface. S protein is proposed to be responsible for the primary attachement of virus to cell surface receptors. The potential of S protein as a probe for the detection of Neu5,9Ac2-containing glycoconjugates is demonstrated.

Bovine coronavirus (BCV) and hemagglutinating encephalomyelitis virus (HEV) from swine were found to grow to high titers in MDCK I cells, a subline of Madin Darby canine kidney cells. Virus grown in these cells was used to isolate and purify the HE-protein. This protein has been shown recently to have acetylesterase activity and to function as the receptor-destroying enzyme of BCV. Here we show that HEV contains this enzyme, too. The glycoproteins were solubilized by treatment of virions with octylglucoside. Following centrifugation through a sucrose gradient the surface proteins S and HE (hemagglutinin-esterase) were obtained in purified form. After removal of the detergent by dialysis, HE formed rosettes as shown by electron microscopy. The purified HE protein retained acetylesterase activity and was able to function as a receptor-destroying enzyme rendering red blood cells resistant against agglutination by both coronaviruses. HE protein released from the viral membrane failed to agglutinate red blood cells. However, it was found to recognize glycoconjugates containing N-acetyl-9-O-acetylneuraminic acid as indicated by a binding assay with rat serum proteins blotted to nitrocellulose and by its ability to inhibit the hemagglutinating activity of BCV, HEV, and influenza C virus. The purified enzyme provides a useful tool for analyzing the cellular receptors for coronaviruses.

We present evidence that the hemagglutinin (HA) of influenza B virus and the glycoprotein of influenza C virus (HEF) are acylated. The fatty acid linkage is sensitive to treatment with hydroxylamine and mercaptoethanol, which points to a labile thioester-type linkage. The HA of influenza B virus contains mainly palmitic acid, whereas the HEF glycoprotein of influenza C virus is acylated with stearic acid which has not been observed before as the prevailing fatty acid in viral or cellular acyl proteins.

The receptors for the hemagglutinating encephalomyelitis virus (HEV, a porcine coronavirus) on chicken erythrocytes were analyzed and compared to the receptors for bovine coronavirus (BCV) and influenza C virus. Evidence was obtained that HEV requires the presence of N-acetyl-9-O-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5,9Ac2) on the cell surface for agglutination of erythrocytes as has been previously shown for BCV and influenza C virus: (i) Incubation of red blood cells with sialate 9-O-acetylesterase, the receptor-destroying enzyme of influenza C virus, rendered the erythrocytes resistant against agglutination by each of the three viruses; (ii) Human erythrocytes which are resistant to agglutination by HEV acquire receptors for HEV after resialylation with Neu5,9Ac2. Sialylation of red blood cells with limiting amounts of sialic acid indicated that strain JHB/1/66 of influenza C virus requires less Neu5,9Ac2 for agglutination of erythrocytes than the two coronaviruses, both of which were found to be similar in their reactivity with Neu5,9Ac2-containing receptors.

We describe a synthetic sialic acid analogue, 9-thioacetamido-N-acetylneuraminic acid (9-thioacetamido-Neu5Ac), which is recognized by the receptor-binding activity of influenza C virus, but is resistant to the receptor-destroying enzyme (acetylesterase) of this virus. Following transfer of the analogue to the surface of receptor-negative cells, influenza C virus is able to attach to these cells, but is unable to infect the cells. This result suggests that inactivation of virus receptors by the receptor-destroying enzyme is essential for initiation of infection. Because of their unique properties such analogues promise to be powerful chemotherapeutic agents.

The interaction of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) with erythrocytes was analyzed. The binding activity of IBV was not sufficient to agglutinate chicken erythrocytes. However, it acquired hemagglutinating activity after treatment with neuraminidase to remove alpha 2,3-linked N-acetylneuraminic acid from the surface of the virion. Pretreatment of erythrocytes with neuraminidase rendered the cells resistant to agglutination by IBV. Susceptibility to agglutination was restored by resialylation of asialo-erythrocytes to contain alpha 2,3-linked sialic acid. These results indicate that IBV attaches to receptors on erythrocytes, the crucial determinant of which is sialic acid alpha 2,3-linked to galactose. In contrast to other enveloped viruses with such a binding specificity (influenza viruses and paramyxoviruses) IBV lacks a receptor-destroying enzyme.

For viruses that mature by a budding process, the envelope glycoproteins are considered the major determinants for the site of virus release from polarized epithelial cells. Viruses are usually released from that membrane domain where the viral surface glycoproteins are transported to. We here report that measles virus has developed a different maturation strategy. Measles virus was found to be released from the apical membrane domain of polarized epithelial cells, though the surface glycoproteins H and F were transported in a nonpolarized fashion and to the basolateral membrane domain, respectively.

Transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) is able to recognize sialic acid on sialo-glycoconjugates. Analysis of mutants indicated that single point mutations in the S protein (around amino acids 145–155) of TGEV may result both in the loss of the sialic acid binding acitivity and in a drastic reduction of the enteropathogenicity. From this observation we conclude that the sialic acid binding acitivity is involved in the enteropathogenicity of TGEV On the basis of our recent results we propose that binding of sialylated macromolecules to the virions surface may increase virus stabiltiy. This in turn would explain how TGEV as an enveloped virus can survive the gastrointestinal passage and cause intestinal infections.

Enteropathogenic transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV), a porcine coronavirus, is able to agglutinate erythrocytes because of sialic acid binding activity. Competitive inhibitors that may mask the sialic acid binding activity can be inactivated by sialidase treatment of virions. Here, we show that TGEV virions with efficient hemagglutinating activity were also obtained when cells were treated with sialidase prior to infection. This method was used to analyze TGEV mutants for hemagglutinating activity. Recently, mutants with strongly reduced enteropathogenicity that have point mutations or a deletion of four amino acids within residues 145 to 155 of the S protein have been described. Here, we show that in addition to their reduced pathogenicity, these mutants also have lost hemagglutinating activity. These results connect sialic acid binding activity with the enteropathogenicity of TGEV.

Summary The receptor-binding activity of strain CU (grown in MDCK I cells) and of strain VA (adapted to Vero cells) of human coronavirus OC43 was analyzed and compared with the binding activity of bovine coronavirus (BCV) and of the OC43 strain provided by the American Type Culture Collection (AT). Results obtained with resialylated erythrocytes indicated that the ability of the viruses to recognize 9-O-acetylated sialic acid in an α2,6-linkage decreased in the following order: AT>CU>BCV>VA. Only minor differences were observed with respect to the α2,3-linkage. The amino acid sequence of the S protein of strain CU and VA was derived from the nucleotide sequence of the cloned gene. Strain VA differed from strain CU in 34 positions, 18 in the S1 and 16 in the S2 subunit.

A synthetic sialic acid analog, N-acetyl-9-acetamido-9-deoxy-neuraminic acid, can be used by influenza C virus as a receptor determinant for attachment to cells, In contrast to the natural determinant, N-acetyl-9-O-acetylneuraminic acid, the synthetic sialic acid is resistant to the action of the receptor-destroying acetylesterase of this virus. The sialic acid analog was enzymatically transferred to the surface of Madin-Darby canine kidney cells that are resistant to infection because of a lack of receptors. Influenza C virus was able to infect the modified cells though requiring a 10-fold larger amount of the sialic acid analogue on the cell surface compared to the natural receptor determinant. The quantitative difference is accounted for mainly by a less efficient binding of influenza C virus to the analog. Thus, in our system, inactivation of the receptor by the viral esterase is not required for the initiation of an influenza C virus infection.

Membrane cofactor protein (MCP) has been shown to act as a cellular receptor for measles virus. In previous binding studies we demonstrated a direct interaction between the measles virus H protein and MCP. The binding was shown to be independent of the O-glycans but dependent on the N-glycans of MCP. To elucidate the role of N-glycans for the receptor function of MCP, the effect of the glycosylation inhibitors tunicamycin (TM) and 1-deoxymannojirimycin (DMJ) was analyzed. TM which prevents N-glycosylation has been reported to inhibit the expression of functional measles virus receptors. Here we show that MCP lacking all N-glycans was detectable on the surface of Vero cells, although in a reduced amount. Therefore, the lack of receptor activity cannot be explained by intracellular degradation or defective transport. In the presence of DMJ, a mannosidase I inhibitor, MCP is synthesized with N-glycans of the high-mannose type in contrast to the complex oligosaccharides present on MCP of untreated cells. Both MCP with mannose-rich and MCP with complex N-glycans were recognized by measles virus H protein in an in vitro binding assay. They both could also serve as receptors for the infection of cultured Vero cells, arguing against a direct binding of virus to a carbohydrate moiety within the N-glycans of MCP. We propose that N-linked oligosaccharides are required to maintain a conformation-dependent receptor determinant of MCP.

Porcine transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) has been shown to agglutinate erythrocytes using a2,3-linked sialic acid on the cell surface as binding site. The hemagglutinating activity requires the pretreament of virus with neuraminidase. We obtained evidence that TGEV recognizes not only N-acetylneuraminic acid but also N-glycoloylneuraminic acid, a sialic acid present on many porcine cells.

Bovine coronavirus (BCV), human coronavirus OC43 (HCV-OC43) and hemagglutinating encephalomyelitis virus (HEV) are serologically related viruses that all have hemagglutinating activity. The receptor determinant for attachment to erythrocytes has been shown to be N-acetyl-9-O-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5,9Ac2). We compared the ability of the three coronaviruses to recognize 9-O-acetylated sialic acid and found that they all bind to Neu5,9Ac2 attached to galactose in either A2,3 or A2,6-linkage. There are, however, some differences in the minimum amount of sialic acid that is required on the cell surface for agglutination by these viruses. Evidence is presented that HCV-OC43 uses Neu5,9Ac2 as a receptor determinant not only for agglutination of erythrocytes but also for attachment to and infection of a cultured cell line, MDCK I cells.

The designation myxoviruses has been chosen historically for a group of viruses comprising influenza viruses, Newcastle disease virus, and mumps virus, because they were able to interact with mucins (see Chapter 5). A characteristic feature of these viruses was the presence of two activities that appeared to counteract each other. On the one hand, the viruses bind to receptors present on erythrocytes, resulting in a hemagglutination reaction. On the other hand, they contain a receptor-destroying enzyme rendering erythrocytes resistant to the viral agglutinating activity. The receptor determinant recognized by this group of viruses turned out to be sialic acid, and the receptor-destroying enzyme has been characterized as a sialidase and a sialate O-acetylesterase. Despite the similarities, members of the myxovirus group differ in several fundamental aspects, e.g., the presence of a segmented or a nonsegmented genome. Therefore, they have been grouped into two taxonomic families. Influenza A, B, and C viruses belong to the family Orthomyxoviridae. Viruses such as mumps virus, Newcastle disease virus, Sendai virus, and other parainfluenza viruses are members of the family Paramyxoviridae. In addition to the receptor-binding and the receptor-destroying activity, these viruses have a fusion activity. They differ, however, in the distribution of the three activities on the viral surface glycoproteins. With influenza A and B viruses, receptor-binding and fusion activity are functions of the hemagglutinin (HA). A second glycoprotein (NA) is responsible for the sialidase activity. In the case of paramyxoviruses, the receptor-binding and the sialidase activity are combined on one type of glycoprotein designated HN, whereas the fusion activity is localized on a separate glycoprotein (F). Influenza C viruses have only a single glycoprotein that is responsible for all three activities. They also differ from the other viruses in that they recognize N-acetyl-9-O-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5,9Ac2) rather than N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) as receptor determinant. Furthermore, the receptor-destroying enzyme of influenza C viruses is a sialate 9-O-acetylesterase. In this chapter, the interaction of viral proteins with sialic acid and the biological significance of the receptor-binding and the receptor-destroying activity are discussed.

Two cellular proteins, membrane cofactor protein (MCP) and moesin, were reported recently to be functionally associated with the initiation of a measles virus infection. We have analyzed the interaction of measles virus with cell surface proteins, using an overlay binding assay with cellular proteins immobilized on nitrocellulose. Among surface-biotinylated proteins from a human rectal tumor cell line (HRT), measles virus was able to bind only to a 67-kDa protein that was identified as MCP. The virus recognized different isoforms of MCP expressed from human (HRT and HeLa) and simian (Vero) cell lines. The binding of measles virus to MCP was abolished after cleavage of the disulfide bonds by reducing agents as well as after enzymatic release of N-linked oligosaccharides. By contrast, removal of sialic acid or O-linked oligosaccharides did not affect the recognition of MCP measles virus. These data indicate that the receptor determinant of MCP is dependent on a conformation of the protein that is maintained by disulfide bonds and N-glycans present in the complement binding domains. Our results are consistent with a role of MCP as primary attachment site for measles virus in the initial stage of an infection. The functional relationship between MCP and moesin in a measles virus infection is discussed.

Porcine transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) was found to resemble avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) in its interaction with erythrocytes. Inactivation of the receptors on erythrocytes by neuraminidase treatment and restoration of receptors by reattaching N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) to cell surface components indicated that alpha 2,3-linked Neu5Ac serves as a receptor determinant for TGEV as has been reported recently for IBV. Similar to IBV, the haemagglutinating activity of TGEV is evident only after pretreatment of virus with neuraminidase indicating that inhibitors on the virion surface have to be inactivated in order to induce the HA-activity of these viruses. A model is presented to explain why the HA-activity of untreated virus is masked and how neuraminidase treatment results in the unmasking of this activity.

The S protein of hemagglutinating encephalomyelitis virus is shown to be a hemagglutinin requiring N-acetyl-9-O-acetylneuraminic acid as a receptor determinant on the surface of erythrocytes. The ability of bovine coronavirus to recognize 9-O-acetylated sialic acid was used to establish a binding assay for the detection of glycoproteins containing this type of sugar. The assay is very fast, because it uses the acetylesterase of the viral HE protein to localize bound virus.

Bovine coronavirus (BCV) initiates infection by attachment to cell surface receptors the crucial component of which is N-acetyl-9-O- acetylneuraminic acid. Inactivation of receptors by neuraminidase treatment and restoration of receptors by enzymatic resialylation of asialo-cells is described as a method to determine (i) the type of sialic acid that is recognized; (ii) the linkage specificity of the viral binding activity; (iii) the minimal amount of sialic acid required for virus attachment. Evidence is presented that both glycoproteins and glycolipids can serve as receptors for BCV provided they contain 9-O-acetylated sialic acid. A model is introduced proposing that after initial binding to sialic acid-containing receptors, the S-protein of BCV interacts with a specific protein receptor. This interaction may result in a conformational change that exposes a fusogenic domain and thus induces the fusion between the viral and the cellular membrane.

The influenza C glycoprotein HEF was analyzed for acetylesterase activity after SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and transfer to nitrocellulose membranes. Using a histological esterase assay, the glycoprotein was detected as a colored band indicating that it is enzymatically active. The enzyme activity was not affected by low pH, but was abolished after denaturation by SDS as well as after breaking the disulfide bonds by reducing agents. Glycoprotein inactivated by SDS regained its enzyme activity if the ionic detergent was displaced by either bovine serum albumin or a nonionic detergent. The stability of the enzyme combined with the color assay provides a convenient tool to study the acetylesterase activity of the influenza C virus glycoprotein.

The two surface glycoproteins S and HE of human coronavirus OC43 (HCV-OC43) were isolated from the viral membrane and purified. Only the S protein was able to agglutinate chicken erythrocytes, indicating that this viral protein is the major hemagglutinin of HCV-OC43. The receptor determinant recognized by this virus on the surface of erythrocytes is N-acetyl-9-O-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5,9Ac2) which is also used by bovine coronavirus for attachment to cells. By analyzing erythrocytes containing different amounts of Neu5,9Ac2 in either of two linkage types, it was found that there are subtle differences in the affinity of both viruses for 9-O-acetylated sialic acid. Bovine coronavirus was more efficient in recognizing low amounts of Neu5,9Ac2 alpha 2,3 linked to galactose, whereas HCV-OC43 was superior with respect to the alpha 2,6 linkage. The gene coding for the S protein of HCV-OC43 was cloned and sequenced. A large open reading frame predicts a polypeptide of 150 kDa in the unglycosylated form. A protein of about 190 kDa is expected if the 20 potential glycosylation sites are used for attachment of N-linked oligosaccharide side chains. These predictions were confirmed by in vitro transcription and translation of the gene in the presence or absence of canine pancreatic microsomal membranes. A high degree of sequence homology was found between the S proteins of HCV-OC43 and bovine coronavirus. Structural and functional analyses of more strains should help to identify the location of the sialic acid-binding site.

A relatively simple and sensitive method is described which enables the effect of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) on the receptor-destroying enzyme (RDE) and the haemagglutination (HA) activity of bovine coronavirus (BCV) to be analysed in one assay. A lysate of HRT-18 cells infected with the L9 strain of BCV was found to have a higher RDE:HA ratio than purified virus. At 4 degrees C the lysate induced an HA pattern which completely disappeared upon raising of the temperature to 37 degrees C. This L9-infected cell lysate was used to determine the HA inhibition (HAI) titres of MAbs directed against the surface glycoproteins S and HE of BCV. Thereafter, the test plates were incubated at 37 degrees C to enable the ability of the MAbs to prevent elution of virus from BCV-erythrocyte complexes to be assessed. No inhibition of RDE was detectable with MAbs against glycoprotein S, which had HAI titres ranging from 1:16 to 1:128. On the other hand, MAbs directed against glycoprotein HE had similar HAI titres, but they inhibited elution of 8 HA units of BCV at titres of up to 1:65,000.

Receptor-destroying enzymes have long been thought to be present only on influenza viruses and paramyxoviruses but not on other animal viruses. Paramyxoviruses as well as influenza A and B viruses are able to inactivate their own receptors by virtue of a neuraminidase which cleaves terminal sialic acid from glycoproteins or gangliosides (Drzeniek, 1972). The corresponding enzyme of influenza C virus is a sialate 9-0-acetylesterase which releases acetyl residues from position C-9 of N-acetyl-9-O-acetyl-neuraminic acid (Neu5,9Ac2) (Herrler et al., 1985). Recently, sequencing of the genome of mouse hepatitis virus revealed an open reading frame which surprisingly showed some similarity to the glycoprotein HEF of influenza C virus (Luytjes et al., 1988). This finding prompted a search which resulted in the discovery that bovine Coronavirus (BCV) contains a sialate O-acetylesterase similar to the receptor-destroying enzyme of influenza C virus (Vlasak et al., 1988a). This enzyme is inhibited by diisopropylfluorophos-phate (DFP), which binds covalently to serine in the active-site of serine proteases and esterases. By using a radioactive form of this inhibitor protein E3 of BCV was identified as esterase (Vlasak et al., 1988b). The same glycoprotein has been shown previously to be involved in the hemagglutinating activity of BCV (King et al., 1985). Therefore, E3 is designated HE.

Only little information is available about the initial events in the infectious cycle of coronaviruses. Attachment of strain A59 of mouse hepatitis virus to the cell surface has been shown to be mediated by a protein of about 110 kDalton (Boyle et al., 1988). Recently, bovine Coronavirus (BCV) and human corona-virus OC43 (HCV-OC43) have been shown to recognize receptors on erythrocytes similar to influenza C virus. The evidence is based on the finding that both influenza C virus and BCV contain a sialate O-acetylesterase, which functions as a receptor-destroying enzyme (Vlasak et al, 1988). Incubation of chicken red blood cells with the esterase of either virus renders the erythrocytes resistant to agglutination by both viruses as well as by HCV-OC43. This result indicates that N-acetyl-9-O-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5,9Ac2) is a receptor determinant for attachment of BCV and HCV-OC43 to erythrocytes as has been shown previously for influenza C virus (Rogers et al., 1986). Here we confirm the importance of Neu5,9Ac2 for the binding of BCV to the cell surface by resialylation of erythrocytes. We present evidence that strain Johannesburg/1/66 of influenza C virus is more efficient in recognizing Neu5,9Ac2-containing receptors than BCV.

N-Acetyl-9-O-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5,9Ac2) has been shown to be a high-affinity receptor determinant for attachment of influenza C virus to erythrocytes (G. N. Rogers, G. Herrler, J. C. Paulson, and H-D. Klenk, 1986, J. Biol. Chem. 261, 5947-5951). In this report the nature of the cell surface receptor for influenza C virus on tissue culture cells was analyzed. Pretreatment with either neuraminidase or neuraminate 9-O-acetylesterase was found to render LLC-MK2 cells resistant to infection by influenza C virus as evidenced by the failure to detect virus release into the medium by hemagglutination titration. Susceptibility to infection was fully restored after incubation of neuraminidase-treated cells with bovine brain gangliosides known to contain Neu5,9Ac2. These results indicate that (i) Neu5,9Ac2 is the primary receptor determinant required for influenza C virus to attach to tissue culture cells and to initiate infection and (ii) gangliosides containing this type of sialic acid are potential receptors for influenza C virus. Several cell lines which are resistant to infection by this virus were able to release influenza C virus into the medium provided they were incubated with bovine brain gangliosides prior to virus infection. This result indicates that lack of appropriate receptors on the cell surface is a major reason for the restricted cell tropism of influenza C virus.

Identification of the receptor-destroying enzyme of influenza C virus as a specific neuraminate O-acetylesterase has suggested that 9-O-acetyl-N-acetylneuraminic acid is an essential component of the cell surface receptor of influenza C virus (Herrler, G., Rott, R., Klenk, H.-D., Muller, H.-P., Shukla, A. K., and Schauer, R. (1985) EMBO (Eur. Mol. Biol. Organ.) J. 4, 1503-1506). In this report, three common sialic acids, N-acetylneuraminic acid (NeuAc), N-glycollylneuraminic acid (NeuGc), and 9-O-acetyl-N-acetylneuraminic acid (9-O-Ac-NeuAc) were compared for their ability to mediate attachment of influenza A, B, and C viruses to cells. Human asialoerythrocytes were resialylated to contain the three sialic acids in defined sequence on glycoprotein carbohydrate groups using purified sialyltransferases and corresponding CMP-sialic acid donor substrates. While influenza C virus failed to agglutinate native cells or resialylated cells containing NeuAc and NeuGc, resialylated cells containing 9-O-Ac-NeuAc in three different sialyloligosaccharide sequences were agglutinated in high titer. In contrast, most representative influenza A and B viruses examined preferentially agglutinated cells containing NeuAc and NeuGc and failed to agglutinate cells containing 9-O-Ac-NeuAc. Cells containing 9-O-Ac-NeuAc were sensitive to the action of influenza C virus neuraminate O-acetylesterase which converts 9-O-Ac-NeuAc to NeuAc. This treatment abolished agglutination by influenza C while making the cells agglutinable by several influenza A and B viruses. Finally, the ability of influenza C virus to agglutinate the erythrocytes of various species correlated with the presence of 9-O-Ac-NeuAc. The results provide direct evidence that influenza C virus utilizes 9-O-acetyl-N-acetylneuraminic acid as the primary receptor determinant for attachment to cell surface receptors.

The nature of the receptor-destroying enzyme (RDE) of influenza C virus has been elucidated by analyzing its effect on the haemagglutination inhibitors rat alpha 1-macroglobulin (RMG) and bovine submandibulary mucin (BSM), respectively. The inhibitory activity of both compounds is abolished by incubation with influenza C virus. After inactivation, RMG and BSM were found to contain reduced amounts of N-acetyl-9-O-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5,9Ac2) and increased amounts of N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac). H.p.l.c. analysis revealed that purified Neu5,9Ac2 is converted to Neu5Ac by incubation with influenza C virus. These results demonstrate that RDE of influenza C virus is neuraminate-O-acetylesterase [N-acyl-9(4)-O-acetylneuraminate O-acetylhydrolase (EC 3.1.1.53)]. The data also indicate that haemagglutination-inhibition (HI) by RMG and BSM and most likely virus attachment to cell surfaces involves binding of influenza C virus to Neu5,9Ac2.

Neuraminidases of both viral and bacterial origin have been reported to be unable to destroy the cellular receptor for influenza C virus on chicken erythrocytes, in contrast to the receptors for influenza A and B virus. However, under appropriate conditions neuraminidases from both Vibrio cholerae and Clostridium perfringens were able (i) to make chicken red blood cells resistant against agglutination by influenza C virus and (ii) to reduce the hemagglutination-inhibiting activity of rat serum. Both effects were abolished in the presence of the neuraminidase inhibitor 2,3-dehydro-2-deoxyneuraminic acid (DDN). These results indicate that contrary to previous assumptions sialic acid may very well be an essential component of the receptor for influenza C virus.

Purified alpha 1-macroglobulin (RMG) isolated from rat plasma was found to be a potent inhibitor of hemagglutination by influenza C virus. Neuraminidase treatment of purified RMG reduced its inhibitory activity by more than 80% indicating that sialic acid is required for maximal HI-activity. The inhibitory activity of RMG was shown to be sensitive to the receptor-destroying activity (RDA) of influenza C virus. Methylation analysis of the glycopeptides of RMG indicated the presence of only one major type of oligosaccharide which is a complex N-linked oligosaccharide with a biantennary structure. Comparison of the glycopeptides before and after neuraminidase treatment revealed that the oligosaccharides are terminated by sialic acid residues attached to galactose residues at position C-6. Methylation analysis was also performed on RMG which had lost its inhibitory activity upon incubation with RDA of influenza C virus. No difference between the glycopeptides of native and inactive RMG could be detected. Galactose was found to be substituted at position C-6 in both samples, indicating that also the oligosaccharides of inactive RMG are terminated by sialic acid. The implications of these results are discussed.

Of the biological activities of influenza C virus, haemagglutination, receptor inactivation and fusion, only the latter has been conclusively correlated with its surface glycoprotein (gp). We have purified the gp by octylglucoside treatment of influenza C virions followed by centrifugation into a sucrose gradient. Evidence was obtained that gp also represents the receptor-destroying enzyme of influenza C virus, which has been characterized as a neuraminate 9-O-acetylesterase: (i) it inactivated the receptors for influenza C virus on chicken erythrocytes; (ii) it had acetylesterase activity as indicated by the release of acetate from bovine submandibulary mucin; (iii) monoclonal antibodies directed against gp inhibited the acetylesterase activity of influenza C virus. Although purified gp was unable to agglutinate chicken red blood cells, it blocked haemagglutination by viruses. This finding as well as the haemagglutination inhibition activity of monoclonal anti-gp antibodies indicate that gp is also responsible for the haemagglutinating activity of influenza C virus. Thus, as the influenza C glycoprotein is the only myxovirus glycoprotein with three different activities, we propose the designation HEF in order to describe its function as a haemagglutinin (H), an esterase (E) and a fusion factor (F).

The acetylesterase of influenza C virus has been reported recently to be inhibited by diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP) [Muchmore EA, Varki A (1987) Science 236: 1293-1295]. As this inhibitor is known to bind covalently to the serine in the active site of serine esterases, we attempted to determine the serine in the active site of the influenza C acetylesterase. Incubation of purified influenza C virus with 3H-DFP resulted in the selective labelling of the influenza C glycoprotein HEF. The labelled glycoprotein was isolated from a SDS-polyacrylamide gel. Following reduction and carboxymethylation, tryptic peptides of HEF were prepared and analyzed by reversed phase HPLC. The peptide containing the 3H-DFP was subjected to sequence analysis. The amino acids determined from the NH2-terminus were used to locate the peptide on the HEF polypeptide. Radiosequencing revealed that 3H-DFP is attached to amino acid 17 of the tryptic peptide. These results indicate that serine 71 is the active-site serine of the acetylesterase of influenza C virus.

Proteolytic cleavage of the fusion protein (F) is an important control mechanism of the biological activity of paramyxoviruses. The sequence R-R-H-K-R(112) at the cleavage site of the F protein of measles virus (MV) was altered by site-directed mutagenesis to R-N-H-N-R(112), which is not recognized by the ubiquitous cellular protease furin. When transiently expressed in cell cultures standard F protein was cleaved, whereas the mutant remained in the uncleaved form. Syncytium formation by the mutant that was analysed after coexpression with haemagglutinin protein depended on the presence of trypsin. Recombinant MV containing the mutation required trypsin activation for fusion and infectivity in cell culture. Intranasal infection of transgenic mice susceptible to MV infection (Ifnartm-CD46Ge) resulted in a moderately productive infection and inflammation of the lung. In contrast to parental virus, intracerebral inoculation did not induce neural disease. The possible effects of the change in cleavage activation on tissue tropism and pathogenicity are discussed.

The hemagglutinating activity of transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV), an enteric porcine coronavirus, was analyzed and found to be dependent on the presence of alpha-2,3-linked sialic acid on the erythrocyte surface. N-Glycolylneuraminic acid was recognized more efficiently by TGEV than was N-acetylneuraminic acid. For an efficient hemagglutination reaction the virions had to be treated with sialidase. This result suggests that the sialic acid binding site is blocked by virus-associated competitive inhibitors. Porcine respiratory coronavirus (PRCV), which is serologically related to TGEV but not enteropathogenic, was found to be unable to agglutinate erythrocytes. Incubation with sialidase did not induce a hemagglutinating activity of PRCV, indicating that the lack of this activity is an intrinsic property of the virus and not due to the presence of competitive inhibitors. Only monoclonal antibodies to an antigenic site that is absent from the S protein of PRCV were able to prevent TGEV from agglutinating erythrocytes. The epitope recognized by these antibodies is located within a stretch of 224 amino acids that is missing in the S protein of PRCV. Our results indicate that the sialic acid binding activity is also located in that portion of the S protein. The presence of a hemagglutinating activity in TGEV and its absence in PRCV open the possibility that the sialic acid binding activity contributes to the enterotropism of TGEV.

The nature of the cellular receptor for influenza C virus is investigated by studying the interaction of influenza C virus with rat α 1 -macroglobulin (RMG), a haemagglutination inhibitor. Inactivation of RMB by influenza C virus is not thought to be due to the loss of sialic acid or any other sugar.