Interaction of the amino-terminus of an influenza virus protein with mitochondria.

Reye's Syndrome is characterized in part by liver mitochondrial damage. Previous studies in an animal model have demonstrated the presence of viral antigens in hepatocytes, but replication of the virus does not occur. Evidence is presented in this paper for the interaction of an influenza virus protein with mitochondria as a mechanism for mitochondrial damage in Reye's Syndrome. The amino-terminal 22 amino acids of the PB2 protein of influenza A interact with mitochondria alone (5 micrograms/mg mitochondrial protein) and, when conjugated to bovine serum albumin, mediate the binding of BSA to mitochondria (14 micrograms/mg mitochondrial protein).