Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 19, 2026
11:20
Affinity Purification of Influenza Virus Ribonucleoprotein Complexes from the Chromatin of Infected Cells
Published on: June 3, 2012
THE NUCLEIC ACID AND CARBOHYDRATE OF INFLUENZA VIRUS
1Department of Animal and Plant Pathology of The Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research, Princeton, New Jersey.
The Journal of Experimental Medicine
|October 30, 2009
Summary
This study isolated ribonucleic and desoxyribonucleic acids from PR8 influenza virus particles. Researchers also found additional carbohydrate components, specifically a polysaccharide, in both PR8 and Lee influenza virus particles.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Influenza viruses are significant human pathogens.
- Understanding viral composition is crucial for developing antiviral strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the biochemical components of PR8 and Lee influenza virus particles.
- To identify non-nucleic acid components within purified influenza virus.
Main Methods:
- Purification of PR8 influenza virus particles.
- Extraction of viral components using formamide.
- Analysis of carbohydrate composition.
Main Results:
- Both ribonucleic acid (RNA) and desoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) were isolated from PR8 influenza virus.
- Carbohydrate, in addition to nucleic acids, was detected in influenza virus particles.
- Carbohydrate-rich fractions, largely free of nucleic acid, were obtained from both PR8 and Lee influenza viruses.
- The identified carbohydrate was a polysaccharide composed of mannose, galactose, and glucosamine.
Conclusions:
- Influenza virus particles contain significant carbohydrate moieties beyond those in their nucleic acids.
- The carbohydrate component is a polysaccharide with a specific sugar composition.
- These findings contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of influenza virus structure and composition.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Influenza
Influenza is an acute, highly communicable viral disease that affects the respiratory tract and is responsible for seasonal epidemics worldwide. Influenza A is the most prevalent type associated with widespread outbreaks and is subtyped based on two surface glycoproteins: hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N), as in H1N1. These glycoproteins are essential for viral infectivity, transmission, and immune recognition. Transmission occurs primarily through respiratory droplets and contaminated...
01:25Inhibitors Of Virion Release
Viral replication and dissemination rely on efficient mechanisms for host cell entry, genome replication, assembly, and release. Influenza viruses, such as types A and B, are negative-sense single-stranded RNA viruses with a segmented genome, that depend on two critical surface glycoproteins to carry out these processes: hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). HA initiates infection by binding to sialic acid residues on the surface of host epithelial cells, facilitating receptor-mediated...
02:28Leaky Scanning
During most eukaryotic translation processes, the small 40S ribosome subunit scans an mRNA from its 5' end until it encounters the first start AUG codon. The large 60S ribosomal subunit then joins the smaller one to initiate protein synthesis. The location of the translation initiation is largely determined by the nucleotides near the start codon as there may be multiple translation initiation sites present on the mRNA. Marilyn Kozak discovered that the sequence RCCAUGG (where R stands for...
01:29Viruses with RNA Genomes
RNA viruses are categorized into positive-strand, negative-strand, or double-stranded groups based on their genomic structure and replication mechanisms. This classification dictates how they exploit host cellular machinery for protein synthesis and replication. Some RNA viruses also utilize reverse transcription as part of their life cycle, further diversifying their replication strategies.Positive-Strand RNA VirusesPositive-strand RNA viruses have genomes that function directly as messenger...
00:56Viral Structure
Viruses are extraordinarily diverse in shape and size, but they all have several structural features in common. All viruses have a core that contains a DNA- or RNA-based genome. The core is surrounded by a protective coat of proteins called the capsid. The capsid is composed of subunits called capsomeres. The capsid and genome-containing core are together known as the nucleocapsid.
01:28Introduction to Virus
Viruses are unique biological entities that blur the boundary between living and non-living systems. Although they lack cellular structure and metabolic processes, they can exhibit characteristics of life when infecting a host. Their defining feature is a nucleic acid core, composed of either DNA or RNA, encapsulated within a protein coat called a capsid. This simple structure allows them to invade host cells and use their machinery for replication efficiently.Viral Structure and...