Purification of the Porcine rubulavirus attachment protein by liquid isoelectric focusing

Protein Expr Purif. 2004 May;35(1):120-5. doi: 10.1016/j.pep.2003.12.009.

Abstract

Porcine rubulavirus (PoRV) is an emerging virus responsible for meningoencephalitis, respiratory distress, and reproductive alterations in pigs. The hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) glycoprotein is the most exposed and antigenic of the virus proteins. HN plays central roles in PoRV infection; i.e., it recognizes sialic acid-containing cell receptors that mediate virus attachment and penetration; in addition, its neuraminidase (sialic acid hydrolysis) activity has been proposed to be a virulence factor. So, HN is an ideal target for therapeutic treatment and prevention of this viral infection. This work describes a simple, fast, and sensitive method to purify the active form of HN protein based on its isoelectric point. HN was purified at a pH of 4.4, at which a single protein band of 66 kDa was observed on SDS-PAGE. Pure HN showed a maximal enzymatic activity at pH 3.5 and 37 degrees C using bovine fetuin as substrate. However, it retains circa 80% of its activity at a wide temperature range from 30 to 55 degrees C. We also describe improvements of neuraminidase determination method, which permits analysis in a microplate spectrophotometer, thereby increasing the sensitivity and reducing the costs of valuable reagents and biological samples.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cattle
  • Cell Line
  • HN Protein / isolation & purification*
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Isoelectric Focusing
  • Isoelectric Point
  • Neuraminic Acids / chemistry
  • Neuraminic Acids / metabolism
  • Rubulavirus / chemistry*
  • Rubulavirus / metabolism
  • Swine*
  • Temperature

Substances

  • HN Protein
  • Neuraminic Acids