HETEROGENEITY OF ENVELOPE POLYPEPTIDES AMONG STRAINS OF VENEZUELAN ENCEPHALITIS-VIRUS

Comparative virion polypeptide analysis of 29 strains of purified Venezuelan encephalitis virus by electrophoresis side by side on discontinuous, slab polyacrylamide gels revealed heterogeneity in electrophoretic mobility and apparent numbers of polypeptides. All strains had two common proteins: a capsid protein of 36,000 molecular weight, and an envelope glycoprotein of 50,000-51,000 molecular weight. Another glycoprotein ranged in molecular weight between 51,000 and 55,000. Eight strains yielded an additional glycoprotein peak in the range of 56,000-58,000; two others showed a small glycoprotein peak at 45,000-46,000. These polypeptide patterns were not influenced by the cell species (chick, hamster, monkey) in which the virus was cultured. © 1979.