Interaction of VP3(110-121) peptide with hepatocyte and erythrocyte membrane models

The use of synthetic peptides in the goal of developing a new, inexpensive vaccine against hepatitis A virus is one of the encouraging approaches foll owed by many laboratories. These peptides have to be well characterized, be ing their physicochemical properties one of the most relevant points to con trol. In that sense, one can consider the study of the peptide interaction with lipid monolayers by means of the Wilhelmy plate method, to gain insigh t into the possible mechanism of action at the membrane level. The peptide chosen corresponds to the lineal epitope of hepatitis A virus VP3(110-121). As far as the lipids used are concerned, they were selected according to t he composition of hepatocytes and erythrocytes because these structures see m to play an important role in hepatitis proliferation and infection. The p eptide was able to accommodate into lipid monolayers. Interaction was sligh tly lower in the hepatocyte model than in the erythrocyte model, probably d ue to the presence of cholesterol in the hepatocyte membrane. (C) 1999 Acad emic Press.