Two-dimensional gel analysis of HSV type 1-induced polypeptides and glycoprotein processing.

Two hundred and thirty virus-induced polypeptides have been detected in BHK cells infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1; strain 17) by means of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. The polypeptides have been characterized by both relative mobility following isoelectric focusing and apparent mol. wt. in SDS-polyacrylamide gels. Some polypeptides, visualized as a single band on a one-dimensional SDS-polyacrylamide gel, were resolved into several spots. Three were identified in Vmw43, the band thought to contain thymidine kinase activity. Not all the observed polypeptides are unique species: some appear to be related and have altered mobilities as a consequence of post-translational modification events. Pulse-chase experiments and treatment of infected cells with neuraminidase suggested that glycoproteins gB, gC and gD contain sialic acid and that synthesis of gB and gD occurs by at least 15 and 10 discrete steps respectively.