Vaccinia virus gene D7R encodes a 20,000-dalton subunit of the viral DNA-dependent RNA polymerase.

The polypeptide encoded by the vaccinia virus open reading frame D7R was synthesized in bacteria. Immunization of rabbits with the polypeptide resulted in antibodies that specifically recognized a virion polypeptide of 20,000 daltons. The immunoreactivity with the 20,000-dalton polypeptide was found to coincide with the virion-associated DNA-dependent RNA polymerase through DEAE-cellulose chromatography and glycerol gradient sedimentation. These results argue that the product of the vaccinia open reading frame D7R is a subunit of the viral RNA polymerase.