STRUCTURES ASSOCIATED WITH THE EXPRESSION OF RABIES VIRUS STRUCTURAL GENES IN INSECT CELLS

When rabies virus structural genes were expressed in insect cells, major observed alterations were a high level of cytoplasmic vacuolization caused by the matrix protein M2 and the glycoprotein G. Ring-like structures, 16 nm in diameter, were observed in cell-free extracts from insect cells that expressed the N protein alone. Hexagonally shaped structures, 16-20 nm in diameter, and regular lattice aggregates of the same structures appeared on co-expression of N and M1 proteins. Co-expression of the four structural proteins led to the formation of cell surface blebs containing the structures corresponding to N and M1 proteins.