A PEPTIDE-MODEL FOR THE HEPARIN-BINDING PROPERTY OF PSEUDORABIES VIRUS GLYCOPROTEIN-III

The pseudorabies virus glycoprotein III (PrV-gIII) has been identified previously as the major viral component binding to a heparin-like rec eptor on the surface of target cells. The amino acid sequence of gIII contains three regions corresponding to consensus sequences for hepari n binding. A synthetic peptide corresponding to amino acids 134 to 141 of PrV-gIII bound heparin in a dot blot assay. In contrast, a synthet ic peptide derived from amino acids 290-299 of PrV-gIII did not bind h eparin. We therefore conclude that the region containing amino acid 13 4-141 is involved in binding to the heparin-like cellular receptor.