Here is an except from http://biochemistryquestions.wordpress.com/ that tells us more about the H1N1 virus based on a molecular and biochemical perceptives of that deadly virus.
This picture represents an Influenza virus.
Observe the capside and the core, containing nucleic acids associated to proteins.
The genome of the Influenza A virus is formed by 8 segments of negative sense RNA. Negative sense means that the molecule runs from 3’ to 5’, so it can not be translated to proteins. This type of virus needs a RNA polymerase for the transcription of the original viral RNA to RNA with positive sense (5’3’) that can function as mRNA.
Observe also in the viral surface two important glycoproteins: Haemagglutinin and Neuraminidase (Sialidase).
Hemagglutinin is a kind of lectin. Lectins are glycoproteins related to cellular recognition. Hemagglutinin in viral capside allows the virus to bind, in lungs and throat, with sialic acid residues (derived of neuraminic acid) that are part of the proteins in the epithelial cell surface. An endocytosis process allows the transport of the virus inside the cell and the eventual replication of the virus.
Once the viruses have been replicated inside the cell, they are excreted from the host cell inside a spherical phospholipid membrane that contains Hemagglutinin and Neuraminidase. In the same say that happened at the beginning of the infection, the Hemagglutinin binds to sialic acid residues, but the Neuraminidase hydrolyses the glycoside linkage between Hemagglutinin and the Sialic Acid residues.
Observe the capside and the core, containing nucleic acids associated to proteins.
The genome of the Influenza A virus is formed by 8 segments of negative sense RNA. Negative sense means that the molecule runs from 3’ to 5’, so it can not be translated to proteins. This type of virus needs a RNA polymerase for the transcription of the original viral RNA to RNA with positive sense (5’3’) that can function as mRNA.
Observe also in the viral surface two important glycoproteins: Haemagglutinin and Neuraminidase (Sialidase).
Hemagglutinin is a kind of lectin. Lectins are glycoproteins related to cellular recognition. Hemagglutinin in viral capside allows the virus to bind, in lungs and throat, with sialic acid residues (derived of neuraminic acid) that are part of the proteins in the epithelial cell surface. An endocytosis process allows the transport of the virus inside the cell and the eventual replication of the virus.
Once the viruses have been replicated inside the cell, they are excreted from the host cell inside a spherical phospholipid membrane that contains Hemagglutinin and Neuraminidase. In the same say that happened at the beginning of the infection, the Hemagglutinin binds to sialic acid residues, but the Neuraminidase hydrolyses the glycoside linkage between Hemagglutinin and the Sialic Acid residues.
