Switch-on of transcriptase function in reovirus: analysis of polypeptide changes using 2-D gels.

Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (IEF and SDS-PAGE) was used to examine virion polypeptide changes associated with switch-on of transcriptase function in reovirus. Results reveal that switch-on is correlated with altered electrophoretic behavior of a specific minor polypeptide (delta 1) which is present in intermediate subviral particles. A second finding is that each of the molecular weight classes of viral polypeptides exists as a series of subspecies with different isoelectric points. This suggests that extensive posttranslational modification of progeny viral polypeptides occurs during particle morphogenesis. These findings have important theoretical and practical implications.