Surface components involved in virally mediated membrane changes.

1. Virally mediated permeability changes are not brought about by neuraminidase or other enzyme. They are not mimicked by local anaesthetics such as benzyl alcohol or dibucaine. 2. Virus induces an increase in the exchange rate of membrane-bound Ca2+. The temperature-dependence, and sensitivity to concanavalin A, of the permeability change and of Ca2+ exchange are similar. 3. It is concluded that an increase in the exchangeability of membrane-bound Ca2+ constitutes an early and specific event after the attachment of Sendai virus to cultured cells.