The 55K protein on the 5' termini of adenovirus type 2 DNA is unrelated to virus-coded candidate transformation proteins (E1-53K, E1-40K-50K) and DNA-binding proteins (E2-42K/47K/73K).

A polypeptide of 55,000 daltons (55K) is linked, probably covalently, to the K' termini of adenovirus type 2 DNA. The 55K polypeptide is synthesized during early stages of infection (T. Yamashita, M. Arens, and M. Green, J. Virol. 30: 497-507, 1979) and thus may function in viral DNA replication, gene regulation, or cell transformation. Several virus-coded early polypeptides have been identified that could correspond to the terminal 55K, including the E1-40K-50K and E1-53K candidate transformation polypeptides and the E2-42K/47K/73K single-stranded DNA-binding polypeptide. We show here that two-dimensional tryptic [35S]methionine-peptide maps of the terminal 55K differ completely from [35S]methionine-peptide maps of four related E1-40K-50K polypeptides, the E1-53K, and the related E2-42K, E2-47K, and E2-73K polypeptides. We conclude that the terminal 55K polypeptide does not correspond to any of the known virus-coded early polypeptides.