HIGH-LEVEL PRODUCTION OF POTYVIRUS-LIKE PARTICLES IN INSECT CELLS INFECTED WITH RECOMBINANT BACULOVIRUS

The full length gene for the coat protein (CP) of the potyvirus, Johns ongrass mosaic virus, was incorporated into recombinant baculovirus an d expressed in insect cells. Western blot and Coomassie-stained polyac rylamide gel electrophoresis analysis of infected insect cells demonst rated that CP was produced in large quantity. Electron microscopic exa mination of these cells showed the presence of numerous potyvirus-like particles in the cytoplasm. Morphologically the particles resembled p otyvirus particles assembled in vitro in the absence of viral RNA and those found in Escherichia coli the expressing the recombinant CP gene .