Rotaviruses code for two types of glycoprotein precursors

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Abstract
Rotaviruses are nonenveloped viruses that code for two glycoproteins: a structural glycoprotein (VP7) and a nonstructural glycoprotein (NS29). The precursor to VP7 (37K) was shown to contain a 1.5K cleavable signal sequence. The 37K precursor was authentically processed (signal sequence cleaved and the polypeptide “core” glycosylated) when synthesized in a cell‐free system supplemented with dog pancreatic microsomes. Similar experiments were performed with the nonstructural glycoprotein precursor (20K); however, the 20K precursor contained an integral (noncleavable) signal sequence. Both precursors were inserted into membranes cotranslationally and both glycosylated products underwent post‐translational oligosaccharide processing. The results suggest a morphogenetic scheme for the simian rotavirus SA11.