title: Encapsidation of 18 S rRNA by tobacco mosaic virus coat protein.
abstract: It has been reported that tobacco mosaic virus capsid protein encapsidates discretesized truncated portions of host 18 S rRNA in vitro. This paper presents further information concerning the nature and specificity of this reaction. We have found that it is only the 5' portions of 18 S rRNA that are encapsidated. The structure recognized by capsid protein is highly conserved; bovine as well as plant 18 S rRNA becomes encapsidated. It is further demonstrated that assembly of 18 S rRNA is slow in comparison to assembly of TMV RNA and that this is due to a slow rate of initiation. Synthetic 18 S rRNA, prepared by in vitro transcription of an 18 S rRNA coding sequence, differs from native 18 S rRNA in that full length, rather than a truncated portion, is encapsidated. The possible reasons for this are discussed.
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D002213:Capsid; D009024:Morphogenesis; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal; D012260:Ribonucleases / Q000378:metabolism; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins; D014027:Tobacco Mosaic Virus
chemical_list: D012335:RNA, Ribosomal; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins; D012260:Ribonucleases