Detection of three polypeptides in preparations of bovine viral diarrhoea virus

Radiolabelled bovine viral diarrhoea/mucosal disease virus (BVDV) strains NADL and Oregon C24V were purified by different steps. Following immuno-precipitation, electrophoresis in SDS-polyacrylamide gels revealed three BVDV structural polypeptides with molecular weights of 57 (VP1), 44 (VP2), and 34 (VP3) kd. The two larger BVDV polypeptides VP1 and VP2 were found to be glycosylated (gp57, gp44). The data obtained on BVDV structural proteins demonstrate common features with hog cholera virus and indicate a common grouping with the family Togaviridae.