Genetic and physiological properties of temperature-sensitive mutants of Cocal virus

Temperature-sensitive (ts) mutants of Cocal virus (VSV Cocal) were isolated after treatment with the base analogue mutagen, 5-fluorouracil. These mutants could be classified into four mutually complementing groups. Weak complementation was detected between certain pairs of VSV Cocal ts mutants and ts mutants of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) Indiana, but no complementation was observed with ts mutants of VSV New Jersey. Two complementing ts mutants of Chandipura virus, an unrelated rhabdovirus, did not complement any VSV mutant, Thus, ability to complement in the VSV group appears to be correlated with serological relationships. The RNA and protein-synthesizing capacities of these ts mutants have been determined, and it is possible to establish a correspondence between the VSV Cocal and the VSV Indiana complementation groups.