Influenza virus-membrane fusion triggered by proton uncaging for single particle studies of fusion kinetics.

ABSTRACT: We report a method for studying membrane fusion, focusing on influenza virus fusion to lipid bilayers, which provides high temporal resolution through the rapid and coordinated initiation of individual virus fusion events. Each fusion event proceeds through a series of steps, much like multistep chemical reaction. Fusion is initiated by a rapid decrease in pH that accompanies the "uncaging" of an effector molecule from o-nitrobenzaldehyde, a photoisomerizable compound that releases a proton to the surrounding solution within microseconds of long-wave ultraviolet irradiation. In order to quantify pH values upon UV irradiation and uncaging, we introduce a simple silica nanoparticle pH sensor, useful for reporting the pH in homogeneous nanoliter volumes under conditions where traditional orga

SUBMITTER: Costello DA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3489278 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature