Infection of bovine cells with bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) can be b
locked by the monoclonal antibody (mab) BVD/CA 26, which is directed agains
t a cellular membrane protein. To characterize this molecule, it was isolat
ed and purified by column chromatography. It was found to be an acidic, gly
cosylated membrane protein consisting of two polypeptide chains of about 28
and 56 kDa. Under non-reducing conditions the chains formed multimers of a
bout 200 kDa. In an actin binding assay the 56 kDa polypeptide chain bound
to F-actin as judged by co-sedimentation with actin filaments. Since the ta
rget molecule of BVD/CA 26 is localized on the surface of living cells and
additionally binds to F-actin, a possible biological function may be to con
nect the cortical actin filaments with the cellular plasma membrane. The bl
ocking effect of BVD/CA 26 indicates that this cellular plasma membrane pro
tein is involved in the endocytic pathway of BVDV particles. (C) 2000 Elsev
ier Science B.V. All rights reserved.