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pubmed:abstractText |
Murine polyomavirus recognizes (alpha2,3)-linked alpha-5-N-acetylneuraminic acid (sialic acid) on the surface of susceptible cells. While all strains bind to straight-chain receptors terminating in (alpha2,3)-linked sialic acid, some strains also bind to branched oligosaccharides that carry a second, (alpha2,6)-linked sialic acid. The ability to bind to these branched-chain receptors correlates with a single amino acid mutation at position 91 on the outer surface of the major capsid protein, VP1, and with a significant decrease in tumorigenicity.
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