Role of fatty acid acylation of membrane glycoproteins. Absence of palmitic acid in glycoproteins of two serotypes of vesicular stomatitis virus.

The presence of fatty acids bound to the glycoprotein in a number of serotypes of vesicular stomatitis virus was investigated by growing the virus in the presence of [3H]palmitic acid. [3H]Palmitate was efficiently incorporated into G proteins of the serotypes Indiana, Piry, and Chandipura but was not detected in G proteins from Cocal and three different strains of New Jersey serotypes. Cerulenin, an inhibitor of fatty acid acylation, also did not inhibit the maturation of Cocal serotype. These results suggest that fatty acid acylation of viral membrane glycoproteins may not be a general requirement for maturation and budding of enveloped viruses.