Effect of influenza virus on the interaction of cytoskeleton with cell membranes

The effect of influenza virus on the organization of cytoskeleton (CS) associated with cell surface plasma membranes (PM) of chick embryo cells (CEC) was investigated. The CS isolated from virus-treated PM contained more proteins and more actin than the CS isolated from control membranes. Virus particles were found to be associated with this CS, although the purified virus alone, treated in the same manner, did not sediment at low speed in the residue insoluble in Triton X-100. Autophosphorylation of CS, especially of the polypeptides 24 K, 45 K, 65 K and 105-110 K, was increased in CS prepared from virus-treated membranes. Superprecipitation of the CS prepared from CEC was stimulated by addition of the virus. Electron microscopy of the Triton X-100 insoluble residue from virus-treated PM showed more structures similar to microfilament bundles than Triton X-100 insoluble residue from control membranes. Based on these results we suggest that already in early stages the virus infection leads to a reorganization of membrane-associated CS.