Translation of Semliki-Forest-Virus Intracellular 26-S RNA. Characterisation of the Products Synthesized in vitro

Abstract

The addition of 26-S RNA isolated from baby hamster kidney cells infected with Semliki Forest virus to cell-free extracts of L-cells causes the synthesis of several specific polypeptides. These polypeptides have been characterised and compared with the structural proteins of Semliki Forest virus by (a) polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, (b) affinity chromatography using immobilised immunoglobulin G specific for the viral envelope glycoproteins and (c) tryptic peptide maping. The results show that 26-S RNA codes for all three structural proteins of the virus but that in vitro little, if any, glycosylation of the envelope polypeptides occurs.