Coding assignments of double-stranded RNA segments of SA 11 rotavirus established by in vitro translation.

The segmented double-stranded (ds) RNA genome of the simian rotavirus SA 11, after denaturation, can be translated in a cell-free protein synthesizing system. Of the 11 genome segments, 9 can be resolved on polyacrylamide gels and thus could be individually isolated and translated, providing a means of identifying the polypeptide encoded by each segment. On the basis of electrophoretic mobility of products in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels, the probable gene-coding assignments of dsRNA segments 1 to 6 were determined. RNA segments 1 to 4 code for polypeptides I1, I2, I3, and I4, respectively; segment 5 codes for a polypeptide very similar in mobility to a minor polypeptide present in SA 11-infected cells, O1A; and segment 6 codes for the major inner-capsid polypeptide I5.