Mixed-subunit capsids can be assembled in vitro with coat protein subunits from two cucumoviruses.
Virus particles were reassembled in vitro from tomato aspermy virus strain V (V-TAV) RNA and a mixture of subunits prepared from V-TAV and 35S-labelled cucumber mosaic virus strain T (T-CMV). Immunodiffusion tests showed that the reassembled particles reacted with polyclonal antisera raised against both V-TAV and T-CMV. Radioactivity was found in the precipitin line formed between the reassembled particles and antiserum raised against T-CMV as well as in the precipitin line formed between the reassembled particles and antiserum raised against V-TAV. This shows that 35S-labelled T-CMV protein subunits were incorporated with V-TAV protein subunits into the same particles. Thus, coat proteins of V-TAV and T-CMV can co-assemble and form mixed-subunit capsids in vitro.
Chen
B
B
Department of Crop Protection, Waite Agricultural Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Glen Osmond, South Australia. chenb@raid0.dnet.roche.com
Randles
J W
JW
Francki
R I
RI
D002213:Capsid / Q000378:metabolism*; D018553:Cucumis sativus / Q000821:virology; D017799:Cucumovirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000821:virology; D012367:RNA, Viral; D019065:Virus Assembly / Q000502:physiology*
D012367:RNA, Viral