Processing of the adenovirus terminal protein.

The termini of nascent adenovirus DNA molecules synthesized in vivo are covalently bound to a protein with an apparent molecular weight of 80,000. This protein represents a precursor to the 55,000-dalton protein known to be bound to the 5' termini of mature adenovirus genomes. Processing of the 80-kilodalton precursor to the 55-kilodalton terminal protein is not required for continued adenovirus DNA replication and is probably accomplished during a late stage of virion maturation.