Polymerase Activity of Pichinde Virus |
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| Authors: | Michael F Carter Nilambar Biswal and William E Rawls |
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| Affiliation: | aDepartment of Virology and Epidemiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77025 |
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| Abstract: | Pichinde virus, a member of the arenavirus group, was examined for polymerase activity. Purified virus was found to contain RNA-dependent RNA polymerase but not RNA-dependent DNA polymerase activity. Since RNase but neither DNase nor actinomycin D inhibited the endogenous polymerase reaction, RNA of the virus appeared to be used as the template. The divalent cations Mg(2+) and Mn(2+) were required for optimal reactivity. The RNA product was partially resistant to RNase and the resistant portion had a sedimentation coefficient of 22 to 26S in sucrose gradients. |
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