Influenza Virus Haemagglutinin. Structural Predictions Suggest That the Fibrillar Appearance is Due to the Presence of a Coiled-Coil

Abstract

Predictions of secondary structure for the two chains HAl and HA2 of the haemagglutinin from the Hong Kong influenza virus AjMemphisjl02j72 reveal a striking contrast between the potential conformations of the two chains. HAl is predicted to be rich in ft-structure while HA2 is highly helical. The predictions further suggest that coiled-coil type interactions between the central helical segments of the HA2 chains may hold the haemagglutinin monomers together in the virus.