Studies on a temperature-sensitive mutant of fowl plague virus having a mutation in gene 7 coding for the M protein.
A fowl plague virus (FPV) temperature-sensitive mutant, ts 303/1 having a ts mutation in gene 7 coding for the matrix (M) protein has been obtained. The mutant induced synthesis of virus-specific RNA and polypeptides as well as ribonuclear protein (RNP) formation in cells under non-permissive conditions; however, haemagglutinin cleavage was reduced, functionally active haemagglutinin and neuraminidase were absent and virions were not formed. In mutant-infected cells at 36 degrees C haemagglutinin cleavage was also reduced and virions formed had an altered NP:M ratio as well as a decreased haemagglutinin content. A population of virions formed under these conditions was heterogeneous both in morphology and in buoyant density. The data obtained suggest that a mutation in the M proteins of orthomyxoviruses can affect processing of the haemagglutinin and impair final stages of virion morphogenesis.
D005814:Genes, Viral; D005815:Genetic Code; D005816:Genetic Complementation Test; D006389:Hemagglutinins, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000235:genetics*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009154:Mutation; D009439:Neuraminidase / Q000235:genetics; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D013696:Temperature; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D014771:Virion / Q000235:genetics
D006389:Hemagglutinins, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins; D009439:Neuraminidase