STUDIES ON THE POLYPEPTIDES OF VARICELLA-ZOSTER (V-Z) VIRUS .1. DETECTION OF VARICELLA-ZOSTER VIRUS POLYPEPTIDES IN INFECTED-CELLS

Abstract

Virus-induced polypeptides in cells infected with varicella-zoster virus (VZV) were analyzed by SDS[sodium dodecyl sulfate]-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and autoradiography. When human embryonic lung (HEL) cells infected with the Oka strain of VZV were labeled with 35S-methionine or 14C-glucosamine from 40-46 h after infection, at least 18 VZV-induced polypeptides and 10 glycoproteins could be identified in the infected cells. The MW of polypeptides and glycoproteins ranged from 145,000-23,000 and 105,000-48,000, respectively. Lysates of VZV-infected cells were treated with specific antisera prepared in green monkeys or guinea pigs and analyzed by SDS-PAGE and fluorography. Polypeptides (33) (with MW of about 145,000-22,000) and glycoproteins (13) (MW, about 105,000-38,000) were found in the immunoprecipitates. None of these polypeptides and glycoproteins were detected when infected cells cultured in the presence of phosphonoacetic acid (PAA) were treated in the same way.