Heterogeneous progeny viruses are produced by a budding enveloped phage

Intervirology. 1985;23(4):208-21. doi: 10.1159/000149607.

Abstract

Infection of Acholeplasma laidlawii cells by the temperate enveloped mycoplasma virus L2 results in production of three morphological forms of progeny L2 virus: L2-I, L2-II, and L2-III. These morphological forms can be separated by velocity sedimentation and agarose gel electrophoresis. The latter technique was used to size the quasi-spherical particles: L2-I is 74 nm, L2-II is 88 nm, and L2-III is 132 nm in diameter. The protein composition of the three L2 forms is the same, although there are differences in protein stoichiometric ratios. L2-I, L2-II, and L2-III have the same 11.8 kilobase pair superhelical DNA genome. However, UV inactivation studies and restriction frequency measurements indicate that L2-I and L2-III each contain 1 genome copy, while L2-II contains 2-3 genome copies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Acholeplasma laidlawii
  • Bacteriophages / analysis
  • Bacteriophages / growth & development*
  • Bacteriophages / ultrastructure
  • Centrifugation, Density Gradient
  • DNA, Viral / analysis
  • DNA, Viral / genetics
  • Electrophoresis, Agar Gel
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Virion / analysis

Substances

  • DNA, Viral