Characterization of Autographa californica Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus Deoxyribonucleic Acid

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The DNA of Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV) was isolated from extracellular non-occluded virions. The guanosine plus cytosine content of AcNPV DNA was estimated from its buoyant density in CsCl and its Tm [melting temperature] value [of 71.degree. C to be] 43 mol %. In ethidium bromide-CsCl gradients double-stranded covalently closed DNA molecules (form I) were detected, while relaxed circular (form II) and linear (form III) DNA molecules were demonstrated by velocity sedimentation in sucrose. The MW of AcNPV DNA was about 78 .times. 106 from the sedimentation value of form III DNA. Digestion of AcNPV DNA with restriction endonucleases EcoRI and BamI resulted in 21 and 7 fragments, respectively, after analysis on agarose gels. The MW of the fragments and their molar ratio were determined. By this method the MW of AcNPV DNA was about 83 .times. 106.