Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of avian rotavirus RNA

The RNAs of 4 avian rotavirus isolates were analysed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. One of these isolates was made from chickens, the other three were from turkeys. The RNAs were separated into 8 or 9 bands consisting of 11 segments, ranging in molecular weight from 0.24 X 10(6) to 2.09 X 10(6). In contrast to calf rotavirus, segments 10 and 11 of avian rotavirus RNA had very similar or identical electrophoretic mobilities. This may be a unique feature of avian rotavirus RNA. Co-electrophoresis experiments showed that the RNAs of 2 of the turkey isolates were electrophoretically identical. However, differences existed between these 2 isolates, the chicken isolate and the remaining turkey isolate with respect to segments 5, 6, the 7, 8, 9 complex and 10. Segment 5 of the chicken isolate was sometimes resolved into 2 components, and was further anomalous in that it was absent in some (analyses).