O-linked GlcNAc in serotype-2 adenovirus fibre

Serotype-2 adenovirus fibre is shown to possess an O-linked GlcNAc residue and to have affinity for wheat germ agglutinin. The cytoplasmic and nuclear fibres are both glycosylated. Glycosylation seems to take place in the cytoplasm since most of the [14C]GlcN-labelled fibre is found in this compartment, little label being associated with the microsomes. Glycosylation of the fibre was not affected by inhibitors of N- and O-glycosylation. A variation in fibre glycosylation is observed among adenovirus. Among the serotypes tested, only serotype-5 adenovirus (another subgroup C virus) also incorporated [14C]GlcN into its fibre, but did not possess affinity for wheat-germ agglutinin. The GlcNAc is located in the N-terminal two-thirds of the fibre and more probably in the N-terminal one-third. The free or penton-base-associated fibres are similarly glycosylated. These results suggest that glycosylation is not involved in viral adsorption and in assembly with the capsid penton base. Thus, glycosylation might be a characteristic feature of subgroup C viruses.