Influenza hemagglutinin

An article on influenza hemagglutinin has not yet been provided here.

Meanwhile, there is some introductory material at 1hgf.

Influenza Hemagglutinin is one of two protiens found on the surface of an influenza virus. Hemagglutinin plays a key role in both host cell recognition and membrane fusion.

StructureStructure

The hemagglutinin protien is initially assembled into a homo-trimer. Each of the three identical proteins consists of 549 amino acids. Later during the maturation of the virus, the monomers are cleaved by a protease to generate two chains known as HA1 and HA2.

HA1HA1

The HA1 protein chain begins at the base of the structure and forms a globular bulb at the top of the structure. This bulbous structure contains sialic acid receptor binding site. The amino acids that line the receptor binding pocket determine the specificity of the virus, that is, whether it can infect human, bird, or swine cells. As this portion of the protien is the most exposed, it is also the site most targeted by immune responses and the most affected by mutation.

HA2HA2

The HA2 chain is primarily resposible for facilitating membrane fusion. The C-terminal end of the protien is embedded in the viral membrane. The N-terminal end, known as the "fusion peptide," consists of 10 hydrophobic amino acids. When the protein undergoes pH induced conformational changes, this fusion peptide becomes embedded in the host cell membrane. Additionally, the C-terminuse embedded in the viral membrane rearranges, bringing the two membranes closer together, facilitation fusion.