Synthesis of RNA by mutants of vesicular stomatitis virus (Indiana serotype) and the ability of wild-type VSV New Jersey to complement the VSV Indiana ts G I-114 transcription defect.

The ability of certain vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV; Indiana serotype) temperature-sensitive (ts) mutants to synthesize intracellular viral complementary RNA (vcRNA) at permissive or nonpermissive temperatures for productive infections has been investigated. Mutants belonging to complementation groups II, III, and V synthesize RNA at nonpermissive temperature in amounts essentially equivalent to that obtained at permissive temperatures. Mutant ts G I-114 possesses a thermolabile transcriptase and does not synthesize vcRNA at 40 degrees C; however, mutants ts O I-5, O I-53, O I-78, and O I-80 possess thermostabile transcriptases that are capable of some vcRNA synthesis at 40 degrees C. All five group I mutants are defective in their secondary transcription ability at 40 degrees C. Wild-type VSV New Jersey virus is able to complement the transcription defect of ts G I-114 at 40 degrees C. This complementation is inhibited by puromycin, suggesting that a viral gene product of VSV New Jersey (e.g., its transcriptase or a transcriptase component) is involved. Mokola virus is not able to complement the ts G I-114 defect, although Mokola does synthesize vcRNA in infected cells (in the presence or absence of cycloheximide).