A Protein, VPg, Covalently Linked to 36S Calicivirus RNA

Proteins associated with 36S virus RNA from Vero cells infected with San Miguel sea lion virus, type 2 (SMSV-2), were labelled with ¹²⁵I. One protein, VPg, remained linked to RNA when subjected to deproteinization techniques. VPg labelled with ³²P was observed on 36S RNA from purified virions; the quantity of label was compatible with two phosphates per genome. The estimated mol. wt. of SMSV-2 VPg was 15000.

^* Present address: Department of Neurology, University of California Medical Center, San Francisco, Calif. 94143, U.S.A.

^† Present address: Reed Neurological Research Center, University of California, Los Angeles, Calif. 90024, U.S.A.