Mechanical Transmission, Purification and Properties of an Isolate of Maize Stripe Virus from Venezuela

A Venezuelan isolate of maize stripe virus (MStpV) was successfully transmitted mechanically and by the leafhopper Peregrinus maidis from field infected plants to sweet cv. Iochief. After purification of maize infected with MStpV, fine spiral filamentous particles about 4 nm in diameter and with variable lengths were consistently associated with a nucleoprotein band present in CsCl or Cs₂SO₄ isopycnic gradients. Purified preparations exhibited a typical nucleoprotein absorption spectrum with a maximum at 260–263 nm and a minimum at 240–243 nm and a 260–280 ratio of 1.38. The density of the nucleoprotein in CsCl gradients was estimated at 1.29 g/ml. The sedimentation coefficient was calculated at 62 S. The nucleoprotein consisted of 5 % single stranded RNA and a capsid protein of molecular weight 33.500 daltons. Large quantities of non-capsid proteins were isolated from infected tissue with a molecular weight of 17.500 and 16.500 daltons. Peregrinus maidis, injected with purified MStpV preparation failed to transmit the disease to healthy plants. However, they were infectious when injected with clarified infected plant sap. Antisera against capsid and non-capsid proteins from MStpV-Florida strain reacted positively with the Venezuelan antigens.     

Isolation and characterization of receptor sialoglycoprotein for hemagglutinating virus of Japan (Sendai virus) from bovine erythrocyte membrane

Sialoglycoprotein which exhibits inhibitory activity for hemagglutination by Hemagglutinating Virus of Japan (HVJ, Sendai virus) was isolated from the membrane of bovine erythrocytes. Purification steps for this sialoglycoprotein included extraction with lithium diiodosalicylate, phenol partition, precipitation with ethanol, and chromatography on a phosphocellulose column and an SDS-Sepharose CL-4B column. Purified sialoglycoprotein (GP-2) has high specific activity for inhibiting the hemagglutination with HVJ, and a lesser activity for that with Newcastle disease virus, but it does not inhibit the hemagglutination by influenza A virus. Inhibitory activity of GP-2 on hemagglutination by HVJ is 2,500-fold higher than that of fetuin. Liposomes containing a 10,000-fold larger amount of ganglioside mixture of bovine erythrocytes and those containing a 5,000-fold larger amount of each ganglioside of bovine erythrocytes, N-glycolylneuraminosyl-lactosyl ceramide, sialosyllacto-N-neotetraosyl- and sialosyl-lacto-N-norhexaosyl ceramide, had no inhibitory activity toward hemagglutination with HVJ. GP-2 (mol. wt. 250 K daltons) behaved homogeneously in SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. It contained 70% carbohydrate and 30% protein, by weight. N-Acetylgalactosamine, N-acetylglucosamine, galactose, sialic acid (N-glycolylneuraminic acid, 96%; N-acetylneuraminic acid, 4%) were identified as carbohydrate components, in molar ratios of 1.0:4.0:5.2:2.9. All the oligosaccharides of GP-2 appeared to be linked to polypeptide chains by alkali-labile O-glycosidic linkages. Sialidase treatment of GP-2 and conversion of sialic acid residue of the glycoprotein to C8 and C7 analogues resulted in the loss of the inhibitory activity on hemagglutination by HVJ. Oligosaccharides isolated by gel filtration after treatment of GP-2 with alkaline borohydride had also lost the ability to inhibit the hemagglutination by HVJ. The above results indicate that isolated sialoglycoprotein is the endogenous receptor in bovine erythrocyte membrane specific to HVJ, and the hydroxy group linked to the 9-carbon atom of sialic acid and probably also the hydrophobic protein moiety are important for the recognition of HVJ attachment.     

Intracytoplasmic A Particles: Mouse Mammary Tumor Virus Nucleoprotein Cores?

A rapid method for the isolation of intracytoplasmic A particles, the putative intracellular nucleoprotein cores of mouse mammary tumor virus (MTV), is presented. Spontaneous C3H/He mouse mammary tumors and transplantable mouse Leydig cell tumor were used as source material. Large aggregations of intracytoplasmic A particles were separated from cellular contaminants on discontinuous sucrose gradients and subsequently further purified by isopycnic banding in linear sucrose gradients. The purified particles were solubilized in sodium dodecyl sulfate, and the structural proteins were analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Purified mouse mammary tumor virions were solubilized, and their proteins were analyzed in the same way. Comparison of co-electrophoretic gels indicated a lack of correlation in the molecular size of the major structural proteins in intracytoplasmic A particles and MTV. The three major proteins of the A particles were calculated to be 80,000; 35,000; and 20,000 daltons. Five major polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis bands were obtained with purified MTV; these were 90,000; 69,000; 55,000; 37,000; and 27,500 daltons. These figures showed good correlation with those published for MTV by Nowinski et al. These results suggest the need for the reexamination of the current tenet that intracytoplasmic particles represent intracellular MTV nucleoprotein cores.     

Characterization of the 42-S nucleoprotein particles of Cyprinus carpio oocytes

Previtellogenic oocytes of the fish Cyprinus carpio contain 42S nucleoprotein particles that are composed of two proteins of molecular weights 48,500 and 39,300 (molar ratio 2:1), tRNA and 5S RNA (molar ratio 3:1). The tRNA population embodied in the 42S particle contains all amino acid acceptor species but their distribution differs from that found in tRNA from mature oocytes.     

Three structural polypeptides coded for by minite virus of mice, a parvovirus.

Purified full and empty virions of minute virus of mice were separated on CsCl gradients, and their polypeptides were examined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The empty particle contains two polypeptides, A (83,300 daltons) and B (64,300 daltons), which are 15 to 18% and 82 to 85%, respectively, of the virion mass. The full particle contains the single-stranded DNA genome, proteins A and B, and a third polypeptide, C (61,400 daltons). Again A is 15 to 18% of the protein mass, but the amounts of B and C vary inversely in different preparations of full particles. These polypeptides comprise greater than 99.6% of the protein in either virion, and their molecular weights and molar ratios are independent of the species of host cell on which the virus is propagated, They are not found in uninfected cells, and no protein component of uninfected cells copurifies with either virion under our conditions. Pulse-chase experiments show that the three proteins are synthesized only after virus infection and are therefore probably virus coded. Sequential harvesting from the nuclei of cells infected under one cycle growth conditions shows an increase in the proportion of C in full particles as infection progresses, suggesting that C is derived from B in a late maturation step.     

Purification and carbohydrate structure of natural murine interferon-beta

Mouse interferon-beta (Mu-INF-beta) induced in C-243 cells with Newcastle disease virus was purified in four steps including ammonium sulfate fractionation. DEAE-cellulose, monoclonal Mu-IFN-beta antibody affinity and Mono-S cation-exchange chromatographies. Specific activity of the purified Mu-IFN-beta ranged over 1.1-1.4 X 10(9) NIH units/mg protein. This preparation was submitted to pronase digestion and gel on Fractogel TSK HW-40. The permethylated and acetylated glycopeptide fraction was analyzed by chemical-ionization (ammonia) mass spectrometry. The major glycopeptide is composed of Gal, Man, GlcNAc and NeuAc with a molar ratio of 2.0:3.6:3.4:0.5. The GLC pattern of methyl derivatives obtained by methanolysis and acetylation of fully methylated glycopeptide identified 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-methylgalactose; 3,4,6-tri-O-methyl-mannose; 2,3,4- and 2,4,6-tri-O-methylgalactose; 2,4,di-O-methyl mannose and 3,6-di-O-methylglucosamine. These results when compared with data on N-glycans suggest the following structure for the carbohydrate moiety of Mu-INF-beta: (formula; see text).     

The estimation of host antigen in experimental and commercial influenza subunit preparations by delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction

A delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) test has been used to detect the presence of host-specific antigen(s) in highly-purified egg-grown influenza virus and virus components. Cyclophosphamide-treated mice, primed with an extract from allantoic fluid, showed DTH reactions when challenged with whole virus, spikeless virus particles or polymer-type subunits. All commercial egg-grown influenza vaccines showed the presence of host antigen, whereas lipid-free derivatives such as internal virus protein complexes and monomer HA preparations lacked the activity. These findings are discussed in relation to vaccine application.     

Characterization of polypeptides immunoprecipitable from Pichinde virus-infected BHK-21 cells

Using hamster anti-Pichinde virus serum, we immunoprecipitated polypeptides from BHK-21 cells infected with Pichinde virus. Seven immunoprecipitable polypeptides exhibited a time- and multiplicity of infection-dependent appearance when the cultures were pulse-labeled with L-[35S]methionine for 1 h. The predominant polypeptide was a nucleoprotein (NP) of 64,000 daltons. Components of 48,000, 38,000, and 28,000 daltons, when analyzed by two-dimensional tryptic peptide mapping, were found to be derived from NP. After a 3-h chase period, polypeptides of 17,000, 16,500, and 14,000 daltons were evident, and peptide mapping revealed that these three polypeptides were also related to NP. During a series of pulse-chase experiments, a 79,000-dalton glycoprotein (GPC) was cleaved to glycoproteins of 52,000 and 36,000 daltons. Radiolabel in a polypeptide of approximately 200,000 daltons (L) did not chase into smaller cleavage products. L, GPC, and NP were found to be unique by two-dimensional tryptic peptide mapping. Comparison of polypeptides immunoprecipitated from infected cells with structural components of purified virus revealed that L protein was evident in both. This is the first report of a high-molecular-weight polypeptide in Pichinde virus particles and infected cells.     

Some Properties of a Phloem-Limited Non Mechanically-Transmissible Grapevine Virus

Abstract Grapevine phloem-limited isometric virus (GPLIV) is the name proposed for a non mechanically-transmissible virus found in Italian and Tunisian grapevines. In density gradient centrifugation purified virus preparations sedimented as two components: T, made up of empty protein shells, and B, composed of intact nucleoprotein particles. B particles had a buoyant density of 1.45 g/cm³ at equilibrium in CsCl and contained 35% RNA consisting of a single molecule with an apparent size of 7.4 kb. The coat protein consisted of a single species with a mol.wt of 28,000 daltons. Purified virus preparations did not infect herbaceous hosts by manual inoculation. A specific antiserum with a titre of 1: 64 raised in rabbits, was used for identification of, GPLIV in field-grown Tunisian grapevines and in leafroll-affected Italian vines before and after heat treatment. Although heat treatment eliminated the virus from the majority of the plants, leafroll symptoms persisted in several GPLIV-free vines, indicating that there is no clear-cut relationship between GPLIV and this disease.     

Synthesis of the measles virus nucleoprotein in yeast Pichia pastoris and Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The development of a simple, efficient and cost-effective system for generation of measles virus nucleoprotein might help to upgrade reagents for measles serology. The gene encoding measles nucleoprotein was successfully expressed in two different yeast genera, Pichia pastoris and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, respectively. Both yeast genera synthesized a high level of nucleoprotein, up to 29 and 18% of total cell protein, in P. pastoris and S. cerevisiae, respectively. This protein is one of most abundantly expressed in yeast. After purification nucleocapsid-like particles (NLPs) derived from both yeast genera appeared to be similar to those detected in mammalian cells infected with measles virus. A spontaneous assembly of nucleoprotein into nucleocapsid-like particles in the absence of the viral leader RNA or viral proteins has been shown. Compartmentalisation of recombinant protein into large compact inclusions in the cytoplasm of yeast S. cerevisiae by green fluorescence protein (GFP) fusion has been demonstrated. Sera from measles patients reacted with the recombinant protein expressed in both yeast genera and a simple diagnostic assay to detect measles IgM could be designed on this basis.     

Proteins of Vasicular Stomatitis Virus: I. Polyacrylamide Gel Analysis of Viral Antigens

Infection of L cells with vesicular stomatitis virus results in the release, into the cell-free fluid, of four antigenic components separable by rate zonal centrifugation on sucrose gradients. The largest antigens are the infectious (B) particle and a shorter noninfectious, autointerfering (T) particle. The two small antigens are characterized by sedimentation coefficients of approximately 20S and 6S. Treatment of purified B or T particles with sodium deoxycholate results in the release from the particle of a nucleoprotein core which can be purified on sucrose gradient and which has a sedimentation coefficient characteristic of the virus from which it arose. Utilizing purified antigens labeled with (14)C-amino acids during growth, we examined the protein constituents of each antigen by acrylamide-gel electrophoresis. The proteins of B and T particles are identical, each containing one minor (virus protein 1) and three major (virus proteins 2, 3, and 4) proteins, numbered in order of increasing mobility. Virus protein 3 originates from the nucleoprotein core, whereas proteins 2 and 4 come from the coat. The origin of virus protein 1 is not known. The 20S antigen contains a single protein equivalent to virus protein 3, whereas the 6S antigen shows a single protein which is similar to, but probably distinct from, virus protein 2.     

Lassa virus Z protein is a matrix protein and sufficient for the release of virus-like particles [corrected

Lassa virus is an enveloped virus with glycoprotein spikes on its surface. It contains an RNA ambisense genome that encodes the glycoprotein precursor GP-C, the nucleoprotein NP, the polymerase L, and the Z protein. Here we demonstrate that the Lassa virus Z protein (i). is abundant in viral particles, (ii). is strongly membrane associated, (iii). is sufficient in the absence of all other viral proteins to release enveloped particles, and (iv). contains two late domains, PTAP and PPXY, necessary for the release of virus-like particles. Our data provide evidence that Z is the Lassa virus matrix protein that is the driving force for virus particle release.     

Characterization of the oligosaccharide units of the bovine erythrocyte membrane glycoprotein.

The major glycoprotein of the bovine erythrocyte membrane was purified by extraction of the ghosts with lithium 3,5-diiodosalicylate followed by phenol-water extraction and acidification. The glycoprotein contains 20% protein and 80% carbohydrate by weight and gives a single band on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels with an estimated molecular weight of 230000 daltons. The carbohydrate composition of the glycoprotein was determined to be (in residues relative to sialic acid): sialic acid, 1.0; fucose, less than 0.01; mannose, 0.1; galactose, 3.3; N-acetylgalactosamine, 0.9; and N-acetylglucosamine, 2.4. Pronase digestion of the isolated glycoprotein followed by Sephadex G-75 gel filtration resulted in the separation of a small pool of glycopeptides (pool III), which included all of the mannose-containing glycopeptides, from the bulk of the glycopeptide material which was in the void fractions of the column (pool I). Alkaline borohydride treatment released over 95% of the oligosaccharide units in pool I and approximately 30% of the oligosaccharide units in pool III. These oligosaccharides were isolated by gel filtration and ion-exchange chromatography. The oligosaccharides released from pool I had molecular weights of 1100-1400 daltons and contained sialic acid, galactose, and N-acetylglucosamine in molar ratios of 0.5-1:3:2 as well as a partial residue of N-acetylgalactosaminitol. The oligosaccharides released from pool III by alkali had molecular weights of 1300-1600 daltons and contained sialic acid, galactose, N-acetylglucosamine, N-acetylgalactosamine and N-ACETYLgalactosaminitol in molar ratios of 1-2:2:1:1:1. These data indicate that the majority of the oligosaccharide units of the bovine erythrocyte glycoprotein are linked O-glycosidically to the peptide backbone of the molecule.     

Structural proteins of spring viremia virus of carp

Spring viremia virus (S.V.V.) of carp produced on fathead minnow cells (FHM) has been concentrated by polyethylene glycol and purified by a two step gradient centrifugation. The virus particle has a density of 1.16 in sucrose. Purified S.V.V. was disrupted by sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS), urea, 2-mercaptoethanol and heat, and the proteins were analysed in polyacrylamide gels in presence of SDS. Four different polypeptide chains A, B, C, D were found with M.W. of approximately 150,000, 70,000, 40,000, 19,000 daltons respectively. The three major proteins B, C, D are in molar ratio of 1:4:4.     

Characterization of mammalian neurofilament triplet proteins. Subunit stoichiometry and morphology of native and reconstituted filaments

The three major proteins of mammalian neurofilaments of molecular weights 179,000 (NF1), 129,000 (NF2), and 66,500 (NF3) have been purified to homogeneity by multiple anion-exchange and hydroxylapatite absorption chromatography in 8 M urea. Silver staining of polyacrylamide gels of the purified proteins show single bands. In order to gain further insight into the molecular organization of the neurofilament triplet proteins, the molar stoichiometries and morphologies of native and reconstituted filaments and those isolated from developing brain were studied. Denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by quantitative dye-binding analysis shows that the molar ratio of the three components in neurofilaments isolated from bovine spinal cord myelinated nerve is 4:2:1 (NF3:NF2:NF1). Comparison of the molar ratios of each component in neurofilaments isolated from rat, bovine, and human brain shows a variation in the ratio of each of these polypeptides and raises questions about the physiological uniqueness of the molar composition of the neurofilament triplet. Reconstitution of the three bovine polypeptides into 10-nm filaments was accomplished under conditions in which the NF3 protein was limiting. Reassembly of 10-nm filaments with varying amounts of NF2 and NF1 indicate that the NF3 homopolymer has a limiting capacity to bind NF2 and NF1 and is saturated at a molar ratio of 2:2:1 (NF3:NF2:NF1). Isolation of the neurofilament complex at various stages of rat brain maturation indicates that NF3 and NF2 are integrated into the neurofilament complex as early as embryonic day 17, while NF1 copurifies with these proteins at postnatal day 16, eventually reaching a molar stoichiometry of 2:2:1 in the adult rat. The molecular stoichiometry of the neurofilament proteins, the differential integration of these proteins during brain development, and the variation of the molar composition between mammalian species suggest accessory roles for the NF2 and NF1 proteins in the neurofilament complex.     

The influenza A virus M2 cytoplasmic tail is required for infectious virus production and efficient genome packaging

The M2 integral membrane protein encoded by influenza A virus possesses an ion channel activity that is required for efficient virus entry into host cells. The role of the M2 protein cytoplasmic tail in virus replication was examined by generating influenza A viruses encoding M2 proteins with truncated C termini. Deletion of 28 amino acids (M2Stop70) resulted in a virus that produced fourfold-fewer particles but >1,000-fold-fewer infectious particles than wild-type virus. Expression of the full-length M2 protein in trans restored the replication of the M2 truncated virus. Although the M2Stop70 virus particles were similar to wild-type virus in morphology, the M2Stop70 virions contained reduced amounts of viral nucleoprotein and genomic RNA, indicating a defect in vRNP packaging. The data presented indicate the M2 cytoplasmic tail plays a role in infectious virus production by coordinating the efficient packaging of genome segments into influenza virus particles.     

Synthesis of mumps virus nucleocapsid protein in yeast Pichia pastoris

The expression of mumps virus nucleocapsid protein in yeast Pichia pastoris was investigated. Viral nucleocapsid proteins usually elicit a strong long-term humoral immune response in patients and experimental animals. Therefore, the detection of antibodies specific to mumps virus nucleoprotein can play an important role in immunoassays for mumps diagnosis. For producing a high-level of recombinant mumps virus nucleoprotein the expression system of yeast P. pastoris was employed. The recombinant nucleocapsid protein was purified by cesium chloride ultracentrifugation of yeast lysates. Electron microscopy of the purified recombinant nucleocapsid protein revealed a herring-bone structure similar to the one discovered in mammalian cells infected with mumps virus. The yield of purified nucleocapsid-like particles from P. pastoris constituted 2.1 mg per 1 g of wet biomass and was considerably higher in comparison to the other expression systems.     

In Vitro Assembly of Alphavirus Cores by Using Nucleocapsid Protein Expressed in Escherichia coli

The production of the alphavirus virion is a multistep event requiring the assembly of the nucleocapsid core in the cytoplasm and the maturation of the glycoproteins in the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi apparatus. These components associate during the budding process to produce the mature virion. The nucleocapsid proteins of Sindbis virus and Ross River virus have been produced in a T7-based Escherichia coli expression system and purified. In the presence of single-stranded but not double-stranded nucleic acid, the proteins oligomerize in vitro into core-like particles which resemble the native viral nucleocapsid cores. Despite their similarities, Sindbis virus and Ross River virus capsid proteins do not form mixed core-like particles. Truncated forms of the Sindbis capsid protein were used to establish amino acid requirements for assembly. A capsid protein starting at residue 19 [CP(19-264)] was fully competent for in vitro assembly, whereas proteins with further N-terminal truncations could not support assembly. However, a capsid protein starting at residue 32 or 81 was able to incorporate into particles in the presence of CP(19-264) or could inhibit assembly if its molar ratio relative to CP(19-264) was greater than 1:1. This system provides a basis for the molecular dissection of alphavirus core assembly.     

Precursor Protein for Newcastle Disease Virus

The course of viral protein synthesis during infection of chicken embryo fibroblasts with Newcastle disease virus (NDV) L. Kansas has been followed by using sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Of the three major virion polypeptide molecular weight classes, I (78,400 daltons), II (53,500 daltons), and III (37,600 daltons), only II, having the same electrophoretic mobility as nucleocapsid polypeptide, appears to be the cleavage product of a precursor polypeptide PII (64,800 daltons) detected in NDV-infected cells after brief labeling with radioactive amino acids. Nucleocapsids were isolated from NDV-infected cells which had been pulse-labeled with radioactive amino acids or pulse-labeled and further incubated with unlabeled amino acids. Gel electrophoretic analysis of proteins derived from nucleocapsids showed that an increase in the period of incubation with unlabeled amino acids resulted in an increase in the amount of radioactivity in nucleocapsid protein. Polypeptide PII was not detected as a transient component of the isolated nucleocapsid fraction. These results are consistent with two interpretations. The product of PII cleavage is (i) nucleocapsid polypeptide, or (ii) a nonvirion or minor envelope polypeptide having the same electrophoretic mobility as nucleocapsid polypeptide.     

Requirements for the assembly and release of Newcastle disease virus-like particles

Paramyxoviruses, such as Newcastle disease virus (NDV), assemble in and bud from plasma membranes of infected cells. To explore the role of each of the NDV structural proteins in virion assembly and release, virus-like particles (VLPs) released from avian cells expressing all possible combinations of the nucleoprotein (NP), membrane or matrix protein (M), an uncleaved fusion protein (F-K115Q), and hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) protein were characterized for densities, protein content, and efficiencies of release. Coexpression of all four proteins resulted in the release of VLPs with densities and efficiencies of release (1.18 to 1.16 g/cm(3) and 83.8% +/- 1.1%, respectively) similar to those of authentic virions. Expression of M protein alone, but not NP, F-K115Q, or HN protein individually, resulted in efficient VLP release, and expression of all different combinations of proteins in the absence of M protein did not result in particle release. Expression of any combination of proteins that included M protein yielded VLPs, although with different densities and efficiencies of release. To address the roles of NP, F, and HN proteins in VLP assembly, the interactions of proteins in VLPs formed with different combinations of viral proteins were characterized by coimmunoprecipitation. The colocalization of M protein with cell surface F and HN proteins in cells expressing all combinations of viral proteins was characterized. Taken together, the results show that M protein is necessary and sufficient for NDV budding. Furthermore, they suggest that M-HN and M-NP interactions are responsible for incorporation of HN and NP proteins into VLPs and that F protein is incorporated indirectly due to interactions with NP and HN protein.