A putative replicative form of the abutilon mosaic virus (gemini group) in a chromatin-like structure

Summary The putative replicative form of the abutilon mosaic virus (AbMV), a geminivirus, was purified from infected plants. It was shown to consist of a bipartite genome of 2660 and 2640 bp. This double-stranded DNA has a closed or relaxed circular conformation and part of it is packed in nucleoprotein complexes with a chromatin-like structure. Similarities between the geminiviruses and the animal simian virus 40 are discussed against this back-ground.Cloning was performed under L2/B1 conditions according to the licence of the ZKBS 1526/1This article is based on a doctoral study by A.A. and T.F. in the Faculty of Biology, University of Hamburg