The Polypeptides Induced in Drosophila Cells by a Virus of Heteronychus arator

Abstract

The virus isolated from the black beetle, H. arator, is an icosahedral ribovirus with a diameter of 30 nm and contains 1 major structural polypeptide of MW 40,000. The virus can be grown in D. melanogaster cells and also titered in this line using a plaque assay method. Infected Drosophila cells pulsed with 35S-methionine in the presence of actinomycin D produced 3 virus polypeptides of MW 110,000, 40,000 and 8000. Short pulses, chases with excess non-radioactive methionine and pre-pulse treatments with protease inhibitors failed to demonstrate processing of virus-induced polypeptides.