BACULOVIRUS-EXPRESSED RABIES VIRUS M1-PROTEIN IS NOT PHOSPHORYLATED - IT FORMS MULTIPLE COMPLEXES WITH EXPRESSED RABIES N-PROTEIN

The rabies N, M1, M2, and G antigens have been expressed in Spodoptera frugiperda cells from single gene expression vectors or dual gene vectors (N/Ml or M2/G) using the baculovirus system. Although N protein was phosphorylated, no evidence for M1 phosphorylation was obtained. N-Mi complexes were formed in vivo using dual infections or the coexpression vectors, as well as in vitro in mixing experiments. The free or complexed rabies N and M1 proteins reacted with available monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies. By sedimentation analyses the N-Mi complexes were shown to exist in multiple configurations. © 1992.