Respiratory syncytial virus. II. Isolation and morphology of the glycoproteins.

Treatment of respiratory syncytial (RS) virus with Triton X-100 in solutions of low ionic strength solubilized not only glycoproteins but also some non-glycosylated proteins. Rate zonal sedimentation of the solubilized materials resulted in separation of the glycoproteins from the other components, i.e. one fraction predominantly composed of two glycoproteins each with molecular weight (mol. wt.) of approximately 100,000 and 53,000 was obtained. Electron microscopic observation of this fraction revealed numerous club- or rod-shaped fine structures, suggesting that these were spikes of RS virus. After removal of Triton X-100 the structures aggregated and formed oligomers and polymers.