LCM Virus: Its Purification and its Chemical and Physical Properties

Abstract

Procedures for optimal infection of BHK21 cells by LCM virus are described. LCM virus could be purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation of the virus-containing medium followed by centrifugation in sucrose gradients, whereby the buoyant density of the virus was estimated to be 1.18 g/ml. The nucleic acids of the LCM virus were studied by centrifugation in sucrose gradients and by acrylamide gel electrophoresis. These analyses have led to the detection of 7 different RNA molecules in LCM virus with sedimentation values of 31S, 28S, 23S, 18S, 5.5S, 5S and 4S. Only the 31S and the 23S RNA’s appear to be virus-specific; the 28S and the 18S RNA‘s originate from ribosomes located inside the virion and the small 5.5S, 5S and 4S RNA’s are probably host RNA’s associated with these ribosomes. Preliminary protein analysis revealed 1 major and 5 smaller components. Thus, both the nucleic acid and the protein composition of the LCM virus, which is the prototype of the arenavirus group, seem to be different from other enveloped RNA viruses.