Temperature-sensitive mutants of type 12 adenovirus defective in a late function: protein synthesis and evidence for recombination between mutants in complementation group D.

Four temperature sensitive mutants of adenovirus type 12, classified into complementation group D, synthesize most or all of the late virus-specific polypeptides at the restrictive temperature, as shown by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Infections by these mutants under restrictive conditions apparently result in some over production of the virion hexon polypeptide compared to wild type infection. Genetic recombination between the four mutants has been demonstrated. A partial linear genetic map of the D cistron is presented.