FIG. 6.

Transcription patterns. Cells were infected in 0.5% serum with wild-type, MT-Ter, Y6F, and A185 strains as described in the legend to Fig. 5. Samples were taken at the times shown (16 to 24 hpi). Total RNA was extracted and electrophoresed as described in Materials and Methods. The ethidium bromide staining of the gels indicates equivalent loading of 28S and 18S rRNAs in sharp bands and the absence of degradation (not shown). However, the presence of rRNAs results in bulging distortions. The blots were hybridized with digoxigenin-substituted strand-specific RNA probes. (A) The early transcript-specific probe (nt 399 to 1101) detects all early RNAs. (B) The late transcript-specific probe (nt 3918 to 2928) detects all late RNAs. Early transcripts are displayed by sampling time, while late transcripts are displayed by virus strain. The positions of MT and ST (**) and LT (*) transcripts are shown at 18 and 21 hpi. From 21 hpi (wild type) or 24 hpi (mutants), giant late RNAs migrating above the 28S RNA were seen (arrow). The early blot was cut close to the 28S band.