Characterization of Two Morphology Mutants of Autographa californica Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus with Large Cuboidal Inclusion Bodies

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Two morphology mutants designated m-5 and m-6, of A. californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV) were isolated from virus grown in the presence of N-methyl-N''-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine. Infected cells contained single, large cuboidal inclusion bodies with a crystalline lattice ultrastructure and envelope similar to that of wild-type (wt) polyhedra. The inclusion bodies had low infectivity when fed to Trichoplusia ni larvae. The paracrystalline lattice structure of the mutants was similar to wt, but occluded viruses were rarely found within the mutants. The m-5 polyhedrin (MW 30,000) could be distinguished from wt and m-6 polyhedrin on the basis of migration in SDS-PAGE [ sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis] gels. Peptide maps of polyhedrin were obtained following digestion with chymotrypsinogen or Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease. They were identical for m-6 and wt polyhedrin but m-5 polyhedrin gave a different pattern. The altered morphology may be due to a change in polyhedrin composition not detectable in m-6 polyhedrin by the methods used here, or it may be the result of a mutation affecting a protein not yet identified.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: