Figure 7.

The cap-defective mutations in the VSV L protein abolish gene expression from a mini-genome in host cells. The VSV mini-genome reporter assay (23) was performed with plasmids expressing the N, P and L (WT or mutant) proteins. (A) The relative expression levels of a reporter gene product in cells expressing the WT (defined as 100%) or mutant L protein are shown. Columns and error bars represent the means and standard deviations, respectively, from three independent experiments. Columns 1, 7, 13 and 18 indicate no plasmid expressing the L protein. (B) The WT and mutant L proteins expressed in the cells were detected by Western blotting. The results shown are representatives of the three independent experiments.