INFLUENCE OF GLYCOPROTEIN-B, GLYCOPROTEIN-C AND GLYCOPROTEIN-D ON THECONVERSION OF VIRUS-TO-CELL ATTACHMENT FROM HEPARIN SENSITIVITY TO RESISTANCE

Glycoprotein C-negative (gC(-)) mutants of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) derived from strains KOS and ANGpath were used to analyse the influence of soluble heparin on the phase of adsorption/attachment of HSV-1 to cells. A dose of 200 mu g/ml heparin given 20 mins after inf ection of cells with the gC-positive (gC(+)) strains KOS and ANGpath a t 4 degrees C reduced the adsorption of infective particles to 20 - 30 % of the controls. A weaker heparin effect was observed with gC(-) mut ants. However, also the gC(-) mutants exhibited a short heparin-sensit ive phase. Mutations in amino acids of gB or go at positions 854 or 25 and 27, respectively, did not alter the attachment capacities of thes e HSV mutants in the presence of heparin despite their peculiar fusion properties and resistance to soluble go. We conclude that HSV-1 strai ns exhibit a heparin-resistant phase of attachment, which is determine d by gC. Lack of gC delays the heparin-resistant attachment phase of H SV-1 to cells.