title: Origin of reovirus oligo(A).
abstract: Reovirus contains about 1,200 molecules per virion of oligo(A) of chain length 10 to 15 nucleotides in addition to the 10 double-stranded genome segments. Virions purified from infected BHK, HeLa, or L cells had similar amounts of oligo(A) of the same composition, indicating that it is a virus-specific product. Although conversion of virions to cores by chymotryptic digestion resulted in an almost complete loss of oligo(A) and a marked decrease in infectivity, the infectivity could be partially restored by adsorbing cores to cells in the presence of Kaopectate. Core-infected cells yielded virions that contained a normal complement of oligo(A). The results indicate that oligo(A) is not essential for infectivity or required as a primer/template for its own synthesis.
mesh_terms: D000241:Adenosine; D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002848:Chromatography, DEAE-Cellulose; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D002918:Chymotrypsin; D006224:Cricetinae; D006367:HeLa Cells; D007616:Kaolin; D007668:Kidney; D007739:L Cells; D009841:Oligonucleotides / Q000032:analysis*; D010761:Phosphorus Radioisotopes; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D012087:Reoviridae / Q000032:analysis*; D014316:Tritium
chemical_list: D009841:Oligonucleotides; D010761:Phosphorus Radioisotopes; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014316:Tritium; D007616:Kaolin; D002918:Chymotrypsin; D000241:Adenosine