In order to analyze the function of VPg amplification in aphthoviruses, we have undertaken the first mutational analysis of the repetitive VPg-coding region using an improved foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) cDNA clone from which infective viral RNA was synthesized. A set of VPg mutants was constructed by site-directed mutagenesis which includes different VPg deletion mutations, a VPg insert...
