Immunological reactivity of antisera to sodium dodecyl sulfate-derived polypeptides of polyoma virions

A study was undertaken to produce antisera to sodium dodecyl sulfate-derived polyoma virion polypeptides. With the use of this antisera, it was possible to detect, by immunofluorescence, cytoplasmic synthesis of V1, V2, and V3 polypeptides at 18 h postinfection and subsequent transport to the nucleus by 22 h postinfection. Anti-V1, anti-V2, and anti-V3 sera did not react with intact virions in an immunodiffusion assay, nor did they possess hemagglutination inhibition or viral neutralization activity. Antiserum produced against the four host histone polypeptides (V4 through V7) demonstrated immunofluorescence when reacted with polyoma-infected cells but not with uninfected cells. Antihistone serum was also capable of neutralizing viral infectivity, inhibiting hemagglutination and reacting with whole virions in an immunodiffusion assay.