A transcriptionally active, covalently closed minichromosome of cauliflower mosaic virus DNA isolated from infected turnip leaves.

Purified nuclei from turnip leaves infected by cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) have been shown to contain a fraction of CaMV DNA that consists of covalently closed circular molecules; possesses a nucleosome structure, based on sensitivity to micrococcal nuclease; and contains nuclear RNA polymerase II that selectively transcribes the coding strand of CaMV DNA in vitro. Our results suggest that the transcriptionally active CaMV DNA is in the form of a minichromosome and that this DNA does not contain the site-specific discontinuities characteristic of the virion.