Structural components of the arenavirus Pichinde

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Abstract
Purified Pichinde virions grown in monolayers of [baby hamster kidney] BHK-21 cells contained 3 major species of virion proteins as described previously. Two of the proteins were glycosylated (G1, MW = 64,000; G2, MW = 38,000) and were present in similar proportions on the outer surface of the virions. A 3rd protein (N, MW = 66,000) was not glycosylated and, in association with the viral RNA species, was the major protein component of the viral nucleocapsids. An estimate of the approximate number of molecules of these 3 major proteins/virion was made. Minor amounts of other proteins were also routinely observed in Pichinde virus preparations. None of the 3 major protein species were phosphorylated to any significant extent, nor did they contain sulfated components. Two virion RNA species (L and S), but no 18S rRNA species, were detected in Pichinde virus preparations obtained from infected BHK-21 cells.