Erysimum Latent Virus-Further Characterization as a Tymovirus

Abstract

Erysimum latent virus induced peripheral double membrane-bounded vesicles in chloroplasts of infected [Brassica] cells. Nuclei contained large masses of lightly staining shells thought to be empty shells of the virus. Electrophoresis in agarose gels at pH 7.0 caused the virus to migrate slowly towards the anode. It was good immunogen, but serological relationships with other tymoviruses were extremely weak and found only sporadically. The capsid protein contained 208 amino acid residues determined by FITMOL [a computer program] analysis of the amino acid composition and had a MW of 21.7 .times. 103 determined by SDS [sodium dodecyl sulfate] polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The base composition of the RNA was C 34.5, A 23.9, G 15.6, U 26.0.