[Study on the biological properties of solubilized HeLa cell receptors for group B coxsackieviruses]

The properties of solubilized receptors for coxsackieviruses B (CBV) on HeLa cells were investigated. It was found that the receptor activity and antigenicity were comparatively sensitive to pH change and were rather stable over a wide range of temperatures (4 degrees C-60 degrees C) but they were destroyed completely when the temperature rose to 100 degrees C. Oxidation and reduction augmented the receptor antigenicity, while the receptor activity was lowered only by oxidation and not by reduction. After lipoprotein was precipitated with heparin buffer, the receptor activity and antigenicity remained in the supernatant. Treatment of the solubilized receptors with proteinase K, trypsin and elastase could partially or completely inactivate the viral receptors. The results suggest that the receptors for CBV on HeLa cells are glycoproteins insensitive to temperature and their sulfhydryl groups are unnecessary for receptor activity.