SUMMARYCell lines of primate origin carry receptors on their plasma membrane which are responsible for the specific binding of poliovirus.This paper describes the isolation and characterization of a monoclonal antibody reacting with the plasma membrane of HeLa ceils. The antibody (D171) was selected for its protection of HeLa cells against the cytopathic effect of poliovirus type 1. This protection was found to extend to all three viral serotypes, while the replication of five other viruses in HeLa cells was not affected. The 125i_labelled purified antibody did not react with cell lines derived from pig, dog or rodents but bound specifically to all lines of human or primate origin. Immunoglobulin or Fab fragments of DI71 prevented the binding of 35S-labelled poliovirus to HeLa cells. Conversely, nearly all binding sites of 125I-labelled D171 immunoglobulins or Fab fragments could be blocked after preincubation of HeLa cells with poliovirus. These results indicate that D 171 recognizes the poliovirus receptor site on different susceptible cells and that practically all D171 binding sites are involved in the specific attachment of poliovirus to the plasma membrane. To determine whether the epitope recognized by D171 could be separated from the receptor for poliovirus, human-mouse cell hybrids were prepared and analysed. In all 40 clones tested, the susceptibility to poliovirus correlated with the binding of D171.

Protein synthesis, amino acid uptake, membrane potential, cell volume, Na+ and K+ levels, and ATPase (Na+,K+ activated; EC 3.6.1.3) activity were investigated in control and poliovirus-infected HeLa cells. Inhibition of protein synthesis was first observed 60 min postinfection and reached a maximum at 120 min. The onset of protein synthesis inhibition coincided with a decrease in cell volume and with an elevation of ATPase activity in isolated HeLa cell membranes. Some 3 h after virus adsorption, ATPase activity was inhibited, the Na+-K+ gradient of the cell collapsed, both membrane potential-dependent tetraphenylphosphonium ion uptake and amino acid uptake were reduced, and the cell volume increased. These results provide further experimental support for the hypothesis that modification of the cell membrane plays an important role in the strategy of cytopathogenic viruses in the shutoff of host metabolism and cell death.

Little is known concerning the effects of Na+-coupled solute transport on (Na+,K+)-ATPase mediated cation pumping in the intact cell. We investigated the effect of amino acid transport and growth factor addition on the short term regulation of (Na+,K+)-ATPase cation transport in HeLa cells. The level of pump activity in the presence of amino acids or growth factors was compared to the level measured in phosphate buffered saline. These rates were further related to the maximal pump capacity, operationally defined as ouabain inhibitable 86Rb+ influx in the presence of 15 microM monensin. Of the growth factors tested, only insulin was found to moderately (22%) increase (Na+,K+)-ATPase cation transport. The major determinant of pump activity was found to be the transport of amino acids. Minimal essential medium (MEM) amino acids increased ouabain inhibitable 86Rb+ influx to a level close to that obtained with monensin, indicating that the (Na+,K+)-ATPase is operating near maximal capacity during amino acid transport. This situation may apply to tissue culture conditions and consequently measurements of (Na+,K+)-ATPase activity in buffer solutions alone may yield little information about cation pumping under culture conditions. This finding applies especially to cells having high rates of amino acid transport. Furthermore, rates of amino acid transport may be directly or indirectly involved in the long-term regulation of the number of (Na+,K+)-ATPase molecules in the plasma membrane.

Concerted structural alterations of viral proteins in the capsid of poliovirions are induced after adsorption to specific receptors on the host cells. Similar changes occur in vitro during exposure to low and high pH, elevated temperature or to denaturing agents. These structural alterations can be monitored conveniently by recording changes in the intrinsic fluorescence of the poliovirus-capsid and by following the fluorescence intensity after addition of ethidium bromide to virus particles. Application of these fluorescence techniques reveals that the uncoating of the virions in vitro occurs in two distinct steps: 1. entry of ions, e.g. ethidium bromide, 2. development of sensitivity of the virion RNA to RNase and release of the RNA. We confirm different structural stabilities of the virions at several pH values to elevated temperatures and a stabilizing effect of arildone on poliovirions.

After exposure of HeLa cells to poliovirus there is a rapid decline (within minutes) in fluorescence polarization of DPH (1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene). Within one hour after infection the (Na+/K+)ATPase activity of an isolated plasma-membrane-rich fraction is enhanced, the cell volume decreases, and the intracellular concentration of a potent low-molecular-weight inhibitor of host protein synthesis increases.