Polyadenylated, cytoplasmic transcripts of varicella-zoster virus

Cytoplasmic RNA was isolated from varicella-zoster virus (VZV)-infected cells. By oligo(dT)-cellulose chromatography, the RNA was separated into polyadenylated, poly (A)+, and nonpolyadenylated, poly (A)-, fractions. RNA blot hybridization was employed to detect and map VZV transcripts. As VZV infection cannot be coordinated, cytoplasmic RNA was isolated from VZV-infected cells when the cells showed extensive cytopathology. Therefore, while the VZV transcripts represented heterogeneous temporal classes, it may be assumed that late VZV RNA predominated. At least 41, and as many as 67 (depending on DNA probe overlap), VZV polyadenylated transcripts have been identified. Preliminary evidence for the presence of two VZV-specific nonpolyadenylated, cytoplasmic transcripts was observed.