Human rhinovirus HRV14 uncoats from early endosomes in the presence of bafilomycin

Determination of infectious progeny virus and in vivo labelling with [S-35] methionine followed by immunoprecipitation demonstrates that the major rece ptor group human rhinovirus HRV14 is able to infect HeLa cells in the prese nce of the V-ATPase inhibitor bafilomycin A1. However, host cell shut off i s delayed and viral yield is decreased in the presence of the drug. Uncoati ng can thus take place under conditions that prevent endosomal acidificatio n indicating that it is catalysed by the viral receptor alone. Since transp ort is arrested in early endosomes upon inhibition of:vesicle acidification , the data also suggest that productive uncoating takes place from early en docytic compartments, (C) 1999 Federation of European Biochemical Societies .