Location of a local lesion gene in tobacco mosaic virus RNA.

Abstract

Protein subunits were stripped to various degrees from one specific end of tobacco mosaic virus particles by treating the virus with sodium dodecyl sulfate. Different classes of partially stripped virus were exposed to the mutagenic action of nitrous acid, and the resulting products were tested for total infectivity on Xanthi tobacco and for local lesion mutants on Sylvestris tobacco. A pronounced rise in the ratio of local lesion mutants to total infectivity occurred when about 75% of the RNA starting from the 3[image]-end had been exposed. It is suggested that the local lesion gene is located in the segment of RNA exposed when the virus particle is more than 70% stripped.