Glycosylation at Asn91 of H1N1 haemagglutinin affects binding to glycan receptors

Biochem J. 2012 Jun 15;444(3):429-35. doi: 10.1042/BJ20112101.

Abstract

The glycoprotein HA (haemagglutinin) on the surface of influenza A virus plays a central role in recognition and binding to specific host cell-surface glycan receptors and in fusion of viral membrane to the host nuclear membrane during viral replication. Given the abundance of HA on the viral surface, this protein is also the primary target for host innate and adaptive immune responses. Although addition of glycosylation sites on HA are a part of viral evolution to evade the host immune responses, there are specific glycosylation sites that are conserved during most of the evolution of the virus. In the present study, it was demonstrated that one such conserved glycosylation site at Asn(91) in H1N1 HA critically governs the glycan receptor-binding specificity and hence would potentially impinge on the host adaptation of the virus.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Asparagine / chemistry
  • Asparagine / genetics
  • Asparagine / metabolism*
  • Glycosylation
  • Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus / chemistry
  • Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus / genetics
  • Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Polysaccharides / chemistry
  • Polysaccharides / genetics
  • Polysaccharides / metabolism*
  • Protein Binding / physiology
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary

Substances

  • H1N1 virus hemagglutinin
  • Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus
  • Polysaccharides
  • Asparagine