Comparisons of the peptide maps of Kunjin virus proteins smaller than the envelope protein

We analyzed the maps of [35S]methionine-labeled tryptic peptides of the Kunjin virus-specified proteins NV2 1/2, NV2, V2, NV1 1/2, NV1, and V1. The peptides of NV1 1/2 are identical to those of V2, except for one peptide contained only in the latter. The maps of each of the other proteins are unique and, consequently there is no evidence of any one protein being derived from another by proteolytic cleavage. The tryptic peptide maps of the above polypeptides were also compared with those of the larger Kunjin proteins, NV5, NV4, and V3. The resolution of the peptides of NV2 1/2 and NV1 is adequate to exclude any relationships with NV5 and NV4, but a possible relationship with V3 remains, although it seems unlikely in the light of other evidence. Since the peptide map of V1 is comprised of only two methionine-containing peptides similar in mobilities to two peptides found in the maps of NV5, NV4, and V3, a precursor, if any, of V1 has not been positively identified. The peptides of NV2 and V2 (NV1 1/2) are not contained in digests of NV5, NV4, or V3, and therefore, like the latter, NV2 and V2 (NV1 1/2) are independent products of translation from the positive-strand genome.