Assembly of viral structural proteins in cells infected with a temperature-sensitive mutant derived from an HVJ (Sendai virus) carrier culture. Brief report.

The processing of virus polypeptides synthesized in cells infected with HVJ (haemagglutinating virus of Japan--the Sendai strain of parainfluenza 1 virus) was studied. Maturation of a temperature-sensitive (ts) mutant (HVJ-pB) derived from an HVJ carrier culture was inhibited at 38 degrees C incubation. A considerable amount of viral components were made at the restrictive temperature. They were, with the exception of the polypeptide HN, well preserved without a great loss of their function and successfully incorporated into virus particles released after lowering the incubation temperature. The membrane (M) protein seems to be essential for virus morphogenesis.