THE REPLICATIVE FORM OF MS2 RNA: AN X-RAY DIFFRACTION STUDY

Abstract
X-ray diffraction patterns of the purified replicative form of bacteriophage MS2 RNA are identical to those given by the double-stranded reovirus RNA. The patterns prove the double-helical structure postulated for the replicative form and confirm the generality of the structure of double-helical RNA. It seems likely that the replicative form of other single-stranded viral RNA''s described so far have the same structure in view of the similarity of their physicochemical properties with those of MS2 replicative form.