title: Temperature-dependent host range mutation in vesicular stomatitis virus affecting polypeptide L.
abstract: We established previously that the temperature-dependent host range mutant, td CE 3, of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) New Jersey possesses temperature-sensitive RNA transcriptase activity. In this paper, we describe dissociation and reconstitution experiments designed to determine which VSV polypeptide is affected by the td CE 3 mutation. Wild-type VSV New Jersey (ts+), the temperature-dependent host range mutant (td CE 3), and the revertant of this mutant (td CE/R1) were used. Transcribing nucleoprotein preparations, isolated from purified virus particles, were treated in the presence of digitonin with either 0.9 M LiCl to produce supernatants containing virtually only the L polypeptide or 2.0 M LiCl to produce ribonucleoprotein pellets containing only the polypeptides N and NS. Supernatant and pellet fractions synthesized either no or only trace amounts of RNA in vitro. Reconstitution of the supernatants with the pellets in all combinations at 31 degrees C restored much of the transcriptase activity of the transcribing nucleoprotein preparations. RNA synthesis occurred at 39 degrees C when the three pellets were reconstituted with wild-type and revertant supernatants. However, supernatant of the mutant td CE 3 reconstituted with any of the three pellets resulted in little or no detectable transcriptase activity at 39 degrees C. This implies that the polypeptide affected by the td CE 3 mutation is the L polypeptide.
mesh_terms: D002474:Cell-Free System; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000378:metabolism; D009154:Mutation; D010452:Peptide Biosynthesis; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013696:Temperature; D018116:Vesiculovirus / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral; D014764:Viral Proteins; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases