Characterization of a major virion envelope glycoprotein complex of murine cytomegalovirus and its immunological cross-reactivity with human cytomegalovirus.

Three glycoproteins on the murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) virion with apparent molecular weights of 150K (gp 150), 105K (gp 105), and 52K (gp52) were immunoprecipitated by two monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) 8G5.12A and 2E.12A. However, only 8G5.12A was able to neutralize MCMV infectivity in the presence of complement. The accessibility of these three glycoproteins to radiolabeling by surface-iodination reactions suggested that they were exposed on the surface of the virion. Western blot analysis of the three glycoproteins showed that gp150 shared antigenic determinants with gp105 and gp52. Briefly, the MAb 8G5.12A reacted with gp150 and gp105, whereas the MAb 2E8.12A reacted with gp150 and gp52. A third MAb 3H2.12A was also found to be reactive with gp150 and gp105 in Western blots, but was unable to immunoprecipitate these glycoproteins. Data from pluse-chase experiments suggested that all three virion glycoproteins were synthesized from a common 128K precursor, providing a partial explanation of their antigenic relatedness. Furthermore, we have demonstrated the presence of high-molecular-weight complexes formed by disulfide bonding between gp150, gp105, and gp52. Lastly, the MAb 8G5.12A was able to immunoprecipitate 84K and 99-110K glycoproteins from human CMV-infected WI-38 cells, demonstrating that conserved determinants exist between murine and human CMV envelope glycoproteins.