The effect of canavanine on the capsid protein of Sindbis virus

Abstract

In the presence of the arginine analogue canavanine, Sindbis virus-infected BHK 21 cells synthesize a capsid protein of somewhat larger molecular weight than that of controls. This protein can also be seen in short pulse-labelled cells, and probably represents a precursor of the normal capsid protein. In our experiments canavanine had no effect on the viral envelope proteins, and the canavanine containing capsid protein formed nucleocapsids and virus particles as well as normal capsid protein does.