Strain and host-cell dependence of vaccinia virus proteins

The neurotropic strain of vaccinia virus (WR) and the dermotropic strain of vaccinia virus (Elstree) which replicated on mouse L-fibroblasts (a cell line of dermotropic origin) were highly purified, dissociated and chemically labelled by [125I]iodine. The proteins of the two virus strains were compared by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis in the nanogram range, patterned after a modified procedure of O'Farrell. A total number of 113 protein spots were resolved in the radioautograms. Vaccinia virus Elstree contained five polypeptides with same molecular weights but different isoelectric points and three polypeptides with different molecular weights and different isoelectric points as compared with vaccinia virus WR. Vaccinia virus WR which replicated on rat adrenal pheochromocytoma PC12 (a cell line of neurotropic origin) contained four additional proteins as compared with the same strain which replicated on the mouse L-fibroblasts.