Characterization of the HBsAg particle lipid membrane

HBsAg particles are highly immunogenic and have been shown to be a suitable support for the presentation of foreign epitopes. More information about the topology of the HBsAg protein is a prerequisite to any rational attempt to replace the region of this protein with foreign epitopes without modifying the assembly of the particles. This topology and, more precisely, the mode of interaction of the HBsAg protein with the lipid will depend on the lipid organization in the particle envelope. Nothing is known concerning the lipid organization of HBsAg particles. The only available information concerns their lipid composition. Phospholipase D hydrolysis of HBsAg particles was used here to determine whether the particles were surrounded with a lipid monolayer or bilayer. The lipid fluidity within the particle envelope was evaluated by fluorescence polarization measurements. The data strongly suggest that the HBsAg particle membrane is organized as a discontinuous rigid bilayer of lipids interacting with protein aggregates.