FIG. 1.

Immunoprecipitation of ORF2 protein from VZV-infected cells. (A) Antiserum to ORF2 immunoprecipitates a 31-kDa protein from cells infected with ROka VZV and a low-passage clinical isolate (Molly strain) but not from uninfected cells or cells infected with ORF2 deletion mutants of VZV (ROka2DA or ROka2DB). (B) Cells infected with VZV ROka and ORF2 deletion mutants express 44- to 100-kDa proteins that immunoprecipitate with monoclonal antibody to VZV gE (Chemicon, Temucula, Calif.). (C and D) ORF2 encodes a phosphoprotein. Cells infected with parental VZV or with ORF47 or ORF66 mutant viruses were radiolabeled with [³²P]orthophosphoric acid, and ORF2 protein was immunoprecipitated. ORF2 protein is phosphorylated in cells infected with all of the VZV mutants. Panel D is a darker exposure of panel C showing the ORF2 phosphoprotein in cells infected with ROka47S/66S. The numbers to the right of the blots indicate molecular masses (in kilodaltons).