Localization of viral-envelope-glycoprotein-binding sites in fibronectin.

Purified viral-envelope glycoproteins from influenza A virus were found to bind to two fragments of the fibronectin molecule. Human plasma fibronectin was digested by leucocyte cathepsin G, and three different fragments, of Mr 30000, 40000 and 12000-140000, with specific binding functions were isolated. Micelles of radiolabelled influenza A glycoprotein were allowed to bind to these fragments immobilized on polystyrene micro-titre wells. The C-terminal 120000-14000-Mr fragments that carry the cell-binding activity bound viral proteins most efficiently, whereas the 40000-Mr gelatin-binding fragment bound considerably less. The N-terminal 30000-Mr Staphylococcus aureus-binding fragment was negative in the assays. Laminin, a basement-membrane protein, also bound viral proteins, though less effectively than fibronectin. The binding was abolished if laminin or fibronectin fragments were pretreated with neuraminidase. This suggests that the sialic acids in the sugar moieties of these glycoproteins are involved in the binding. The affinity of viral-envelope glycoproteins for certain domains of fibronectin and for laminin may play a role in virus-cell interactions.