The pattern of proteins synthesized in the liver is profoundly modified upon infection of susceptible mice with mouse hepatitis virus 3.
Susceptible BALB/c mice, after experimental infection with mouse hepatitis virus 3 (MHV3), revealed virus titres in the liver that increased gradually to a peak of 8 x 10(5) PFU/g of tissue after 3 days' infection, when the mice died of acute hepatitis. BALB/c mice were infected with MHV3, subsequently labelled in vivo with 35S-methionine, and then the liver preparations from both infected and non-infected animals were subjected to two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Comparisons of the patterns by computer image analysis revealed 17 gene products which increased, and 8 gene products which decreased, upon virus infection in their two-dimensional gel spot intensity. We conclude that during MHV3 infection of a susceptible strain of mice, a major modification in protein synthesis occurs. The pattern alterations were not related to the virus gene products but were mostly endogenous mouse proteins. Whether these proteins are a result of a defence attempt by the animal, or are dictated by the virus in order to prevent a protective response from happening, remains to be shown.
Lucchiari
M A
MA
Instituto Butantan, Laboratorio de Imunologia Viral, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Pereira
C A
CA
Kuhn
L
L
Lefkovits
I
I
D000818:Animals; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; D006524:Hepatitis, Viral, Animal / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D006517:Murine hepatitis virus; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis*
D011506:Proteins