High level production of potyvirus-like particles in insect cells infected with recombinant baculovirus.

The full length gene for the coat protein (CP) of the potyvirus, Johnsongrass mosaic virus, was incorporated into recombinant baculovirus and expressed in insect cells. Western blot and Coomassie-stained polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis of infected insect cells demonstrated that CP was produced in large quantity. Electron microscopic examination of these cells showed the presence of numerous potyvirus-like particles in the cytoplasm. Morphologically the particles resembled potyvirus particles assembled in vitro in the absence of viral RNA and those found in Escherichia coli expressing the recombinant CP gene.