Gene mapping in Pichinde virus: assignment of viral polypeptides to genomic L and S RNAs

Previous studies have demonstrated that Pichinde virus encodes at least three primary translation products. Using wild-type Pichinde and Munchique viruses and a reassortant between the two, designated RE-2, we were able to assign polypeptides L, GPC, and NP to viral L and S RNAs. The RE-2 virus contains the L RNA of Pichinde virus and the S RNA of Munchique virus. Two-dimensional tryptic peptide mapping of L-[35S]methionine-containing peptides demonstrated that NP and GPC were identical in Munchique and RE-2 viruses, and both differed from the corresponding Pichinde virus tryptic profiles. On the basis of this, NP and GPC must be encoded by viral S RNA. Similar comparisons for L polypeptide demonstrated that L is a virus-specific polypeptide encoded by L RNA.