The RNA of tobacco etch virus: further characterization and detection of protein linked to RNA.

TEV-RNA was separated into poly(A)+ and poly(A)- RNA by affinity chromatography. Both classes of RNA have similar base ratios. The poly(A) segment in the RNA was shown to be located at the 3'-OH end by dihydroxyborylaminoethyl-cellulose chromatography. Although the poly(A) was heterodisperse in length, ranging from about 200 to less than 33 AMP residues, two size classes averaging about 150 and 30 AMP residues, respectively, could be recognized. The presence of a genome-linked protein of molecular weight 6000 daltons was detected. The viral RNA is infectious even after proteinase K treatment, indicating that the genome-linked protein is not required for infectivity.