ELECTROPHORETIC MIGRATION OF ADENOVIRUS HEXON UNDER NONDENATURING CONDITIONS

While SDS-PAGE/immunoblotting is a valuable approach for the character ization of monoclonal antibodies, the denaturing conditions involved c an compromise the recognition of conformational epitopes. This report demonstrates that a group specific epitope on adenovirus hexon can be recognized by immunoblotting following SDS-PAGE provided that samples are not boiled prior to electrophoresis. Under these conditions, multi ple bands corresponding to native forms of heron were detected above t he position of the denatured hexon monomer. Among representative serot ypes of subgroups A, B and F, two predominant bands, corresponding to hexon trimers and 'group of nine' herons (GONs), were routinely observ ed. In contrast, higher order structures, in addition to trimers and G ONs, were characteristic of subgroup C adenoviruses. These serotypic d ifferences in stability of hexon structures may reflect differences in protein-protein interactions within the corresponding virions.