Electrokinetic alteration of the surface of herpes simplex virus infected cells.

Changes induced in the ionic composition of the surface of herpes simplex virus (HSV) infected cells were evaluated by whole cell electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing. The kinetics of the progressive decline in cell electrophoretic mobility (a measurement of negative surface charge density) after infection corresponded to the production of infection virus. The observed HSV-induced increase in cell isoelectric focusing pH demonstrated that the electrokinetic cell surface became ionically more positive. The nature of the ionic changes were investigated using a series of specific reagents in conjunction with cell electrophoresis. Infected cells had 2.4 times surface binding sites for the amino-specific reagent 4-acetamide-4'-isothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulphonic acid. A relationship between these virus-induced amino groups and HSV surface antigens was indicated by the similar kinetics of their appearance and electrophoretic neutralization by HSV antibodies.