Effect of detergents and chemicals on purified vaccinia virus: analysis by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and electron microscopy1,2.

Vaccinia virus particles were dissociated into their constituent polypeptides and analysed by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) gel electrophoresis. Thirty-three distinct polypeptide bands were identified and their molecular weights ranged between 11 000 and 150 000 daltons. Specific staining of gels containing polypeptides of dissociated virions revealed the presence of eight glycopeptides. No lipopeptides were detected. Analysis of chemical extracts (urea, guanidine hydrochloride, and alkali treatment) of the virus by SDS gel electrophoresis indicated that a total of 10 to 14 different polypeptides ranging in molecular weights from 11 000 to 70 000 daltons were solubilized. Analysis of detergent extracts and of the remains of extracted viral particles has shown that the detergent Nonidet P-40 (NP-40) solubilized a total of 11 polypeptides of which 6 were glycopeptides. The other detergents sodium deoxycholate (SDC) and cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) were not as selective. both solubilizing more than 25 of the polypeptides composing the virus. Gel electrophoresis results also indicated that most of the small molecular weight (11 000-70 000 daltons) polypeptides were readily solubilized by NP-40, SDC, and CTAB, while those with molecular weights of 70 000 daltons and higher were not well solubilized. The effects of detergents were also analysed by electron microscopy. Evidence was obtained for subpopulations of viral particles having different susceptibility to detergent extraction.