# VIRAL MEMBRANE & GLYCOPROTEIN STRUCTURE

> **NIH NIH R01** · HARVARD UNIVERSITY · 1991 · $165,516

## Abstract

The influenza virus haemagglutinin (HA) glycoprotein is being
studied both as a prototype membrane surface molecule and as a
functional component of a viral envelope.  X-ray crystallographic
studies of the HA from the human, 1968 Hong Kong virus strain
produced atomic models from which chemically detailed conclusions
about virus functions can be deduced.  The detail of these models
also permits the design of biochemical, recombinant DNA, and cell
biological experiments on the mechanisms of the viral activities.
A long-term goal is to develop strategies to intervene in the
viral processes to prevent infection.

How the virus binds to cells is being studied by X-ray structural
analysis of complexes between the HA and synthetic receptor
analogs and with complexes between sialocides and affinity
mutants of the HA.  The structure of the HA from an animal
influenza virus Duck/Ukraine/63 the progenitor of the 1968 human
Hong Kong strain will be determined.  The energetics of the
receptor binding interactions are being measured in parallel with
X-ray experiments by NMR.  Recombinant DNA methods are being used
to create site-directed mutations in the interacting residues and
to provide quantities of novel molecular species for NMR and X-
ray studies.

The mechanism of membrane-fusion by which many enveloped animal
virus enter cells is being studied by structural analysis of a
fusion active and precursor, inactive form of the HA.  The
structure of membrane fusion mutants and a second fusion active
glycoprotein from Influenza C virus are also being studied.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3125527
- **Project number:** 5R01AI013654-15
- **Recipient organization:** HARVARD UNIVERSITY
- **SAM.gov UEI:** LN53LCFJFL45
- **Principal Investigator:** DON C WILEY
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1991
- **Award amount:** $165,516
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1977-01-01 → 1994-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3125527

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3125527, VIRAL MEMBRANE & GLYCOPROTEIN STRUCTURE (5R01AI013654-15). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3125527. Licensed CC0.

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