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Cryptic association of e antigen with different morphologic forms of hepatitis B surface antigen
Author(s) -
Vnek J.,
Prince A. M.,
Trepo C.,
Williams A. E.,
Mushahwar I. K.,
Ling C. M.,
Overby L. R.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
journal of medical virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1096-9071
pISSN - 0146-6615
DOI - 10.1002/jmv.1890040305
Subject(s) - antigen , isoelectric focusing , centrifugation , hbsag , microbiology and biotechnology , hbeag , isoelectric point , gel electrophoresis , radioimmunoassay , sodium dodecyl sulfate , polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis , chromatography , chemistry , antiserum , biology , electrophoresis , virology , biochemistry , hepatitis b virus , virus , immunology , enzyme
When highly purified HBsAg particles, separated by rate zonal centrifugation into populations differing in predominant size, were tested for HBeAg, the e 1 specificity was detected preferentially in association with particle fractions containing large filaments and Dane particles. These results were obtained both by agar gel diffusion and by radioimmunoassay for e antigen. The e antigen activity present in these fractions was potentiated by prior treatment of particles with Tween 80, suggesting cryptic localization of e 1 specificity within or under the outer membrane. The HBeAg released by detergent treatment from a purified preparation composed predominantly of small‐particle forms of HBsAg was separated by electrofocusing into a peak of nonparticulate e antigen in the pH range of 5.7–6.0. Sodium dodecyl sulfate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed three major polypeptides in this preparation with approximate molecular weights of 25,000, 55,000, and 70,000. Furthermore, two additional peaks of e antigen activity were detected which migrated in association with HBsAg particles at isoelectric points of 4.4 and 5.5–5.6. The major portion of e antigen remained in association with particles after further purification by rate zonal centrifugation.