Chloroplast DNA transcripts are encapsidated by tobacco mosaic virus coat protein.
Preparations of tobacco mosaic virus contain pseudovirions, particles resembling virions but containing host rather than viral RNA. The encapsidated host RNA was found to be composed of discrete-sized species derived from a large portion of the chloroplast genome except that very little, if any, ribosomal RNA is present. Pseudovirions contain the same chloroplast DNA transcripts as those detected in extracts from uninfected leaves, although not always in the same relative amounts. Several strains of tobacco mosaic virus were tested and all were found to contain pseudovirions, with the U2 strain containing more than the others.
Biology Department, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202.
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