Purified infectious hematopoietic
necrosis (IHN) virus and the virus of
haemorrhagic septicaemia (VHS) (Egtved virus) each contain five structural
proteins which were designated L, G, N, M-1, and M-2. The IHN viral
polypeptides have molecular weights estimated to be 157,000, 72,000, 40,000, 25,000 and 20,000, respectively, whereas those of VHS viral
polypeptides are estimated to be 157,000 74,000, 41,000, 21,500, and 19,000, respectively. The
carbohydrate composition of the
glycoprotein (G) was confirmed by demonstrating selective incorporation of [3H]
glucosamine into the designated
G protein of both viruses.
Phosphoproteins were identified by incorporation of [32P]
orthophosphate into the N and M-1
proteins of IHN virus and into the N
protein of VHS virus. The
glycoprotein of each virus was selectively solubilized by treatment with
Triton X-100 in low
salt buffer, whereas the M-1, and M-2
proteins along with the
G protein were solubilized by Ttition X-100 in 0.43 M NaCl. The
protein composition of the salmonid rhabdoviruses resembles that of the rabies virus group more closely than the
vesicular stomatitis virus group.