Biochemical studies on influenza viruses. II. Assignment of gene functions to RNA segments 5, 7, and 8 of fowl plague virus and virus N.

Abstract Two recombinant strains carrying all genes from fowl plague virus (FPV), with the exception of RNA segments 5 and 8 which are derived from virus N, have been characterized by comparative RNA and protein analysis. From tryptic peptide mapping it was ascertained that segment 5 codes for the nucleoprotein, segment 7 for the matrix protein, and segment 8 for the nonstructural protein. In connection with previously published results (Scholtissek et al. , 1976; Rohde et al. , 1977), these data complete the genetic maps for FPV and virus N.