Abstract
By the use of strong denaturing agents, a genome-linked protein (VPg)-RNA complex was purified from infectious pancreatic necrosis virus. Ribonuclease treatment of 125I-labelled VPg-RNA released a 90K polypeptide identical to the minor structural polypeptide VP1 (the putative RNA polymerase), as determined by peptide mapping. The polypeptide is linked to the RNA by a serine-5' GMP phosphodiester bond. The results identify birnaviruses as the only dsRNA viruses with a VPg, the size of which is the largest of the VPgs of RNA viruses.
† Present address: USDA, ARS Regional Poultry Research Laboratory, 3606 East Mountain Hope Road, East Lansing, Michigan 48823, U.S.A.
‡> Present address: Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Immunology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada.
Present address: Laboratorio de Bioquimica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Valparaiso, Casilla 92-V, Valparaiso, Chile.