Capsid proteins of cowpea mosaic virus transiently expressed in protoplasts form virus-like particles.
The coding regions for cowpea mosaic virus (CPMV) capsid proteins VP37 and VP23 were introduced separately into a transient plant expression vector containing an enhanced CaMV 358 promoter. Significant expression of either capsid protein was observed only in protoplasts transfected simultaneously with both constructs. Immunosorbent electron microscopy revealed the presence of virus-like particles in extracts of these protoplasts. An extract of protoplasts transfected with both constructs together with RNA-1 was able to initiate a new infection, showing that the two capsid proteins of CPMV can form functional particles containing RNA-1 and that the 60-kDa capsid precursor is not essential for this process.
Wellink
J
J
Department of Molecular Biology, Agricultural University, Wageningen, The Netherlands. Joan.Wellink@MAC.MB.WAU.NL
Verver
J
J
Van Lent
J
J
Van Kammen
A
A
D002213:Capsid / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D017798:Comovirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015870:Gene Expression; D018532:Pisum sativum / Q000821:virology; D011523:Protoplasts; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D014771:Virion; D019065:Virus Assembly
D011994:Recombinant Proteins