Genetic Studies on the Mechanism of Chemical and Physical Inactivation of Reovirus

Abstract

The 3 serotypes of reovirus differ markedly in their response to a variety of chemical inactivating agents. Intertypic recombinants containing various combinations of genes derived from the parental serotypes were used to study the basis of these differences. In addition to recombinants derived from types 1 and 3, and 2 and 3, it was possible to isolate recombinants derived from types 1 and 2, suggesting that these 2 serotypes also undergo unrestricted reassortment. The intertypic recombinants behaved like 1 parent or the other in the presence of the inactivating agents and allowed determination of the genes responsible for each difference. Recombinants derived from crosses between wild-type parental serotypes produced straightforward results, while recombinants derived from mutagenized, temperature-sensitive parents often did not. Sensitivity to 2.5 M-guanidine-HCl and pH 11 was determined by the S1 gene, sensitivity 55.degree. C and 1% sodium dodecyl sulfate was determined by the S4 gene, and sensitivity to 33% ethanol and to 1% phenol was determined by the M2 gene. Thus, relatively nonspecific chemical agents appear to have their predominant effect on specific proteins of the reovirus virion.