Capsid protein VP1 (p85) of Aleutian disease virus is a major DNA-binding protein

The interaction between Aleutian disease virus (ADV) DNA and proteins isolated from ADV-infected cells or ADV virions, respectively, was examined. Proteins were separated on SDS-polyacrylamide gels, transferred to nitrocellulose, and probed with 32P-labeled restriction fragments of replicative form (RF) DNA or with single-stranded virion DNA. The ADV capsid protein VP1 was found to bind the 3'-terminal BamHI fragment of RF DNA extending from map units (m.u.) 0 to 15. No binding was observed with the fragment extending from m.u. 15 to 63 and only minor amounts of label were detected with the 5'-terminal EcoRV fragment extending from m.u. 63 to 100. With the latter fragment, small amounts of label were also detected bound to higher-molecular-weight proteins of about 100,000 Da. No binding of DNA to the ADV nonstructural protein NS1 or to the ADV capsid protein VP2 was detected. Additionally, single-stranded virion DNA was found to bind to VP1.