[Use of preparative electrophoresis for isolating the light-chain hemagglutinin of the influenza virus].

A two-step method for isolation of HA2 polypeptide, the light chain of influenza virus hemagglutinin, from influenza virions is described. The method consists in obtaining a preparation of surface glycoproteins by means of their solubilization from virions with a cation detergent (cetyl-trimethyl-ammonium bromide) followed by fractionation of this preparation by preparative electrophoresis. Relative molecular weights of HA2 and other polypeptides comprising the virion have been determined. The method was used with a recombinant MRC-11 strain.