Biological and biochemical properties of an isolate of cherry rasp leaf virus from red raspberry

A mechanically transmissible virus obtained from symptomless plants of a red raspberry selection imported into Scotland from Quebec, Canada was indistinguishable serologically from a cherry isolate of cherry rasp leaf virus (CRLV). The raspberry isolate, CRLV-R, was graft transmitted to several virus indicator species and cultivars of Rubus without inducing noticeable symptoms. In Chenopodium quinoa sap, CRLV-R lost infectivity after dilution to 10^-5 or heating for 10 min at 60°C but was infective after 16 days (the longest period tested) at 18°, 4° or - 15°C. The virus particles are isometric, c. 28 nm in diameter, and were purified with difficulty from infected C. murale and C. quinoa plants. The particles comprise two nucleoprotein components with sedimentation coefficients of 89 and 115 S and are prone to aggregate during purification. When centrifuged to equilibrium in CS₂SO₄ solution, purified virus preparations formed two major components with p= 1·28 and 1·36 g/cm³. Virus particles contained two RNA species which, when denatured in glyoxal and electrophoresed in agarose gels, had estimated mol. wt of 2·56 × 10⁶ (RNA-1) and 1·26 × 10⁶ (RNA–2). Infectivity of CRLV-R RNA was abolished by treatment with proteinase K, suggesting that the RNA is linked to protein necessary for infectivity; RNA molecules contained polyadenylate. In reticulocyte lysates, CRLV-R RNA stimulated the incorporation of ³H-leucine, mainly into two polypeptides of estimated mol. wt 200 000 and 102 000. When electrophoresed in polyacrylamide gels, protein obtained from CRLV-R particles purified by centrifugation to equilibrium in Cs₂SO₄ separated into three bands with estimated mol. wt 26 000 , 23 000 and 21 000.     

Some properties of an isolate of tobacco rattle virus from Northern Ireland

A virus obtained from soil in which potato plants had shown severe spraing symptoms induced symptoms on indicator plants typical of tobacco rattle virus (TRY). Purified virus preparations of a local-lesion isolate contained particles of two modal lengths, 192 nm and 94 nm containing RNA molecules of mol. wt 2.4 × 10⁶ and 1.23 × 10⁶. Virus coat protein had a mol. wt of c. 21 500. The virus was serologically distantly related to TRY (SYM) and pea early browning virus (PEBV) SP5, but did not react with TRY (CAM) or TRY (PRN) antisera. However, cDNA hybridisation indicated that the virus was more closely related to TRY (PRN) than either TRY (SYM) or PEBV (SP5). The virus isolate has been designated TRY (NI).     

Olive latent ringspot virus, a newly recognised virus infecting olive in Italy

A manually transmissible virus, for which the name olive latent ringspot virus (OLRV) is proposed, was isolated from a symptomless olive tree. The virus was mechanically transmitted to test plants. Purified preparations of OLRV contained three classes of isometric particle, c. 28 nm in diameter, with sedimentation coefficients of 525 (T), 975 (M) and 1325 (B) and containing 0, 30 and 43% nucleic acid respectively. At equilibrium in CsCl gradients, the buoyant densities of T and M components were 1–29 and 1–43 g/cm³ respectively, whereas B component separated into two sub-components with buoyant densities of 1–51 g/cm³ (BJ and 1–52 g/cm³ (B₂). Particle preparations contained two species of single-stranded RNA with mol. wt 1–40 times 10⁶ and 2–65 times 10⁶, both necessary for infectivity. The coat protein of OLRV, dissociated under strong denaturing conditions, separated into four components in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Over 75% of the protein was found in a band with mol. wt 57 600, but all four components were recognised as oligomers of a monomeric form with mol. wt 14 300. OLRV was serologically unrelated to 26 different isometric plant viruses including 17 recognised nepoviruses. Its properties strongly indicate that it is a hitherto undescribed member of the nepovirus group.     

Hydrangea mosaic virus, a new ilarvirus from Hydrangea macrophylla (Saxifragaceae)

A previously unrecognised virus isolated from Hydrangea macrophylla with chlorotic mosaic leaf symptoms in West Sussex was named hydrangea mosaic virus (HydMV). HydMV was mechanically transmitted without difficulty to four of 16 species from three of five families, and was seed transmitted in Chenopodium quinoa, but was not aphid transmitted. Although relatively unstable in vitro, HydMV was purified by clarifying leaf extracts by emulsification with chloroform and acidification with citric acid, followed by differential centrifugation and sucrose density gradient centrifugation. Purified virus incompletely separated on sucrose density gradients into three components (T. M and B) with sedimentation coefficients (s^o_20w) of 86, 97, and 105 S respectively, but all particles had buoyant densities in caesium chloride of 1.37 g/cm³. Virus contained a single polypeptide species (mol. wt 26.4 times 10³), appeared quasiisometric to ovoid or elliptical, and measured c. 28 times 30 (T), 30 times 30 (M) or 30 times 32–38 nm (B). Single-stranded RNA species or mol. wt 1–25, 1–08, 0–83, 0–36 and 0–27 (RNA-1 to 5 respectively) were obtained from virus preparations but mixtures containing RNA-1 to 3 plus either RNA-4 + 5 or the coat protein, were infective. These properties suggest that HydMV has affinities with ilarviruses, but it showed no serological relationship to any of six ilarviruses or 42 other viruses.     

Cellular distribution of three mammalian Ca2+-binding proteins related to Torpedo calelectrin.

Addition of Ca2+ to post-microsomal fractions of bovine adrenal or liver produced a sedimentable complex of membrane vesicles and cytoplasmic proteins. Proteins with apparent mol. wts. 70 000, 36 000 and 32 500 were solubilized from this complex by Ca2+ chelation. The 36 000 mol. wt. protein (p36) was immunoprecipitated by an antiserum specific for pp36, a major substrate for Rous sarcoma virus src-gene tyrosine kinase. This protein was present in many mesenchymal cells and associated with membrane cytoskeleton of bovine fibroblasts in a Ca2+-dependent manner. The 70 000 and 32 500 mol. wt. proteins were widely distributed in established cell lines, but were not clearly associated with cell organelles in tissue sections, nor retained in cytoskeleton preparations. On immunoblots p36 reacted strongly with antibodies produced against the electric fish protein Torpedo calelectrin and the similar Ca2+-binding properties and subunit mol. wts. of these proteins suggests that they might be functionally related. Since Torpedo calelectrin, p70, p36 and p32.5 were bound by lipid vesicles or microsomal membranes at micromolar free Ca2+ concentrations, regulated association with intrinsic membrane components may be involved in the functions of these widespread proteins.     

Some Properties of Cucumber Fruit Streak Virus

An isometric virus c. 30 nm in diameter with a single RNA species (mol.wt 1.45 × 10⁶) isolated from cucumber plants from the island of Crete (Greece) is described under the name of cucumber fruit streak virus (CFSV). The most evident symptom on naturally infected plants consisted of longitudinal chlorotic streak of the fruits. In glasshouse, the virus was soil-transmitted to C. sativus, and, mechanically, to a wide range of herbaceous hosts, most of which were infected only locally. Purified virus preparations sedimented as a single component with sedimentation coefficient of 132S. At equilibrium these preparations were homogeneous in CsCl gradients but formed two bands in Cs₂SO₄ gradients. Virus particles were stabilized by forces involving divalent cations, pH-dependent bonds and salt links between protein and RNA. Although some of the properties of CFSV are similar to those of other small spherical viruses with single RNA species there are differences which do not allow for the assignment of the virus to any of established taxonomic group of plant viruses.     

Host range, purification and some properties of two carlaviruses from hop (Humulus lupulus): hop latent and American hop latent

Hop latent virus (HLV) occurs in virtually all commercial hop plants in England, without causing apparent symptoms. It was transmitted between hop plants in a non-persistent manner by the aphid Phorodon humuli, but was not seed-borne in hop. The virus infected six species in four families out of 40 in 13 families which were inoculated, but infection was systemic only in Dianthus deltoides and hop. Only Phaseolus vulgaris and Chenopodium murale developed symptoms. Purification of HLV from hop extracts was hampered by aggregation of virus particles but this was minimised either by resuspending pellets in phosphate-buffered saline containing Tween 20 or by avoiding ultra-centrifugation. Virus was purified from extracts treated with Triton X-100 by precipitation with polyethylene glycol (PEG) followed either by centrifugation through sucrose density gradients or by exclusion chromatography through columns of Sephadex G-25 and Sepharose 4B. Purified preparations contained filamentous particles c. 675 × 14 nm composed of c. 6% single stranded RNA of mol. wt c. 2.9 × 10⁶ and a single protein species of mol. wt c 33 000. Immunosorbent electron microscopy (IEM) decoration tests suggested that HLV was serologically related to carnation latent, Helenium virus S, lily symptomless and Nerine latent viruses. American hop latent virus (AHLV) was found in two introductions to England from Corvallis, USA in 1975 and 1976. It was transmitted between hop plants in the non-persistent manner by P. humuli. The virus infected 17 species in seven families out of 41 species in 13 families which were mechanically inoculated and was systemic in nine species. It did not cause symptoms in any of five English hop cultivars. C. quinoa was a convenient propagation host and countable local necrotic lesions and ringspots occurred in leaves of Datura stramonium. AHLV was purified by PEG precipitation and centrifugation in sucrose density gradients. Preparations contained filamentous particles c. 680 × 15 nm composed of c. 6% single-stranded RNA of mol. wt c. 3.0 × 10⁶ and a single protein species of mol. wt c. 33 000. In IEM decoration tests AHLV was serologically related to Nerine latent virus but did not react with antisera to 14 other carlaviruses.     

Properties of broad bean yellow band virus, a possible new tobravirus

A virus was transmitted from broad bean plants in Apulia (Southern Italy) with leaves showing yellow rings, line patterns or yellow vein banding and malformations and necrosis of pods. Symptoms in some, but not all, test plants were similar to those induced by tobraviruses. Purified virus preparations contained two classes of rod-shaped particles containing c. 5% nucleic acid with sedimentation coefficients of 186S and 276S. After centrifugation to equilibrium in CsCl gradients, two components were resolved, with buoyant densities of 1·298 and 1·316 g/cm³. Unfractionated virus preparations contained two species of single-stranded RNA with mol. wts of c. 1·06 × 10⁶ and 2·48 × 10⁶ and one species of coat protein with mol. wt of c. 21 300. The modal lengths of the two classes of particles, both in plant sap and in purified preparations, were 77 nm (S particles) and 202 nm (L particles). L particles accumulated in infected cells in paracrystalline aggregates, whereas S particles were randomly distributed in the cytoplasm of cells. The virus was serologically unrelated to two isolates of tobacco rattle virus and two isolates of pea early-browning virus. The virus, named broad bean yellow band, is considered a distinct tobravirus.     

Partial characterisation of a new virus in brusca from the Venezuelan lowlands

Flexuous thread‐like virus particles c. 650–700 nm in length were isolated from brusca (Senna pallida) plants showing stunting, mosaic, vein yellowing and leaf malformation. The virus was mechanically transmitted to healthy Senna pallida, Cassia obovata and Cassia emarginata L. plant species. Virus particles sedimented in sucrose density gradients as one component, with a bouyant density of 1.2 g cm^?3 in caesium chloride equilibrium gradients. Virions contained a molecule of ssRNA with an apparent size of 6.4 kb. The dsRNA pattern showed one main band of about 12 kb, and two subgenomic dsRNA of c. 10 and c. 5.4 kb. Analyses of purified virus preparations by sodium dodecyl sulfate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS‐PAGE) resolved two coat protein subunits, with mol. wt of c. 28 000 and 26 000 daltons. In Western blotting the virus coat proteins reacted with an homologous polyclonal antiserum and with an antiserum to Lettuce infectious yellow virus. Electron microscopic observations of cells from infected plants showed the accumulation of cytoplasmic vesiculate inclusion bodies and crystalline aggregates of virus particles within phloem tissue. Some of the physicochemical and ultrastructural properties of this virus resemble those of a Closterovirus; however, differences show it to be sufficiently distinct from any previously reported viruses. We proposed the name of Senna chlorotic stunt (SeCSV) for this virus.     

Host range, purification and some properties of a new ilarvirus from Humulus japonicus

In 1986, during routine quarantine testing, an apparently undescribed virus was isolated from two of 21 plants of Humulus japonicus grown from seed imported into the UK from Beijing, Peoples Republic of China. The virus, for which we propose the name humulus japonicus virus (HJV), was transmitted mechanically to a wide range of herbaceous plants. No symptoms were seen in virus-infected H. japonicus plants. HJV infected, but did not become systemic, in the cultivated hop (Humulus lupulus) under our conditions although it has been detected serologically in both species of Humulus growing near Beijing. The virus was transmitted through seed of Chenopodium quinoa and was also associated externally with pollen of that species, but no pollen-transmission tests were conducted. HJV was easily purified. Virus particles comprised a single polypeptide (mol. wt c. 26 350) and four RNA molecules (mol. wts 1.31, 1.05, 0.75 and 0.39×10⁶). The three larger mol. wt RNAs were not infective in the absence of the smallest RNA. The particles were quasi-isometric and variable in size. Purified preparations of particles formed four bands in sucrose density gradients but (after fixing with formaldehyde) only a single band (with a density of 1.364 g/ml) in caesium chloride isopycnic gradients. These properties are similar to those of ilarviruses, and HJV was very distantly related serologically to prunus necrotic ringspot ilarvirus. We suggest, therefore, that HJV be regarded as a new member of the ilarvirus group. All known infected plants of H. japonicus at the site of introduction have been destroyed and the virus has probably been eliminated from there. Testing is continuing to confirm this.     

Some Properties of a Phloem-Limited Non Mechanically-Transmissible Grapevine Virus

Abstract Grapevine phloem-limited isometric virus (GPLIV) is the name proposed for a non mechanically-transmissible virus found in Italian and Tunisian grapevines. In density gradient centrifugation purified virus preparations sedimented as two components: T, made up of empty protein shells, and B, composed of intact nucleoprotein particles. B particles had a buoyant density of 1.45 g/cm³ at equilibrium in CsCl and contained 35% RNA consisting of a single molecule with an apparent size of 7.4 kb. The coat protein consisted of a single species with a mol.wt of 28,000 daltons. Purified virus preparations did not infect herbaceous hosts by manual inoculation. A specific antiserum with a titre of 1: 64 raised in rabbits, was used for identification of, GPLIV in field-grown Tunisian grapevines and in leafroll-affected Italian vines before and after heat treatment. Although heat treatment eliminated the virus from the majority of the plants, leafroll symptoms persisted in several GPLIV-free vines, indicating that there is no clear-cut relationship between GPLIV and this disease.     

Characterisation of watermelon curly mottle virus, a geminivirus distinct from squash leaf curl virus

Purified preparations of watermelon curly mottle virus (WCMoV), a whitefly-transmitted geminivirus, contained dimeric or geminate particles of 20 times 30 nm and the virus was transmissible by mechanical means. Virus yields ranged from 100–150 μg/100 g leaf tissue. Purified preparations exhibited a typical nucleoprotein absorbance profile with a maximum absorbance at 258 nm, and A280 / A260 ratio of 0.61–0.64. Infectivity was associated with two light-scattering, virus-containing bands following sucrose density gradient centrifugation. The viral capsid protein was resolved as a doublet by SDS-PAGE. The estimated mol. wts of the two bands within the doublet were 29 100 (±1550) and 27 733 (±1550), respectively. DNA isolated from virus particles was resolved by gel electrophoresis into two circular single-stranded DNA bands of approximately 2.6 to 2.7 kb. The two bands are believed to represent the individual components of a bipartite genome, characteristic of previously described whitefly-transmitted geminiviruses.     

Host range and properties of artichoke yellow ringspot virus

The biological, serological and physico-chemical properties of one isolate of artichoke yellow ringspot virus (AYRV) from Greece and another from Italy were compared. Both isolates infected 56 herbaceous species and there were few differences between them in the symptoms they caused. During purification they behaved identically and both tended to aggregate. Virus particles were isometric and measured c. 30 nm in diameter. In CsCl, virus sedimented as mixed aggregates of empty and full particles with buoyant densities varying from 1.20–1.30 g/ml and from 1.40–1.53 g/ml, respectively. The coat protein of AYRV contains a single polypeptide of mol. wt 53000 and the genome consists of two species of single-stranded RNA with mol. wts 2.17 × 10⁶ (RNA-1) and 1.85 × 10⁶ (RNA-2) daltons, estimated under denaturing conditions. The two virus isolates are serologically very closely related but are unrelated to 28 other plant viruses with isometric particles. The characteristics of AYRV suggest that it is a possible member of the nepovirus group.     

Isolation and characterisation of arthropod gap junctions

Gap junctions have been isolated from the hepatopancreas of the crustacean arthropod, Nephrops norvegicus (Norway lobster). SDS-PAGE of these preparations shows two major protein bands, mol. wt. 18 000 (18 K) and mol. wt. 28 000 (28 K). The 18-K and 28-K proteins are interconvertible, cannot be distinguished by two dimensional tryptic and chymotryptic peptide mapping, and therefore appear to be different (most likely monomeric and dimeric) forms of the same protein. The protein can also aggregate to higher multimeric forms mol. wt. 38 000 (presumed trimer), and mol. wt. 52 000 (presumed tetramer). The buoyant density of the isolated gap junctions in continuous potassium iodide gradients is 1.260 g/cm³. The junctions are progressively solubilized in increasing SDS concentrations, mostly between 0.1% and 0.2% SDS, and this is accompanied by the release of the 18-K and 28-K forms of the junctional protein. The Nephrops hepatopancreas 18-K junctional protein has antigenic determinants in common with the vertebrate 16-K junctional protein as shown by cross-reactivity with two different affinity purified antibody preparations. However, no detectable similarity can be seen between the major ¹²⁵I-labelled tryptic and chymotrytpic peptides of the Nephrops hepatopancreas 18-K protein and the mouse liver 16-K protein.     

Complete nucleotide sequence of genomic RNA of the potato M-virus

The complete nucleotide sequence of potato virus M genomic RNA has been determined to be 8534 nucleotides (with the exception of the poly(A) tail at the 3' end). The sequence contains six large open reading frames coding for proteins of mol. wt. 223206, 25438, 11893, 6793, 33906, and 12183 (in 5'----3' direction). According to its primary sequence analysis the 223K protein ORF codes for a virus RNA replicase. The in vitro translation product of 34K protein gene precipitates by the antisera against the RVM indicating that the 34K protein is the virus coat protein. The general aspects of carla- and potexvirus gene organization are discussed.     

Melon rugose mosaic virus, the cause of a disease of watermelon and sweet melon

A mechanically transmissible virus with isometric particles c. 32 nm in diameter, was isolated from infected watermelons and sweet melons in the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen. Purified virus preparations contained two major sedimenting components with sedimentation coefficients of 61S and 117S. In isopycn ic centrifugation in CsCl the particles formed a single band of buoyant density 1.39 g cm^-3. Preparations of virus particles comprised of a single polypeptide of mol. wt c. 22 000 and ssRNA of mol. wt 2.1 × 10⁶. The virus was serologically related to three of six subgroups of tymoviruses tested. The name melon rugose mosaic virus is proposed for this newly described virus.     

Analysis of polypeptides of virus-specific informosomes induced by tobacco mosaic virus and potato virus X

Informosome-like virus-specific ribonucleoprotein (vRNP) of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) comprise a set of four major polypeptides having molecular weights of 17 500, 31 000, 37 000 and 39 000. Of the minor polypeptides, those of apparent molecular weights 25 000, 55 000, 68 000 and 70 000 had electrophoretic mobilities of polypeptides found in a ribonucleoprotein preparation from uninoculated plants. Polypeptide with mol.wt. 175 000 is TMV coat protein so far as: a) vRNP was precipitated with immunoglobulins against TMV and TMV coat protein; b) it had electrophoretic mobility similar to mobility of TMV coat protein; c) the peptide map of polypeptides with mol.wts 31 000, 37 000 and 39 000 are probably virus-specific-products. This is supposed because they are not present in cell informosomes protein, and they are not revealed in vRNP induced in cells after infection with potato virus X (PVX). Electrophoresis of vRNP-PVX protein reveals polypeptides of 23 000 (PVX coat protein), 55 000, 70 000, 78 000, 95 000, 120 000 and 145 000.     

侵染半夏的两种病毒的分离纯化和初步鉴定

用自然感染的半夏（Ｐｉｎｅｌｌｉａｔｅｒｎａｔａ）为材料,经粗提纯后检查到一种线状病毒和一种球状病毒,用两种方法对担提纯样品中的病毒粒子进行了分离纯化。１０％－７０％连续甘油梯度８００００ｇ离心１５０分钟获得两条病毒带,经紫外吸收测定均为强的核蛋白吸收峰,病毒粒子检查分别为球状和线状病毒粒子,线状病毒经浓缩收集为均一成份．与芋花叶病毒（Ｄａｓｈｅｅｍｍｏｓａｉｃｖｉｒｕｓ,ＤＭＶ）抗体有强的阳性反应。粗提纯样品经０．８％琼脂糖凝胶电脉分离为一条蛋白带,该条带回收后经紫外吸收测定为核蛋白吸收峰,电镜下检查为均一的球状病毒,以ＴＭＶ为对照、醋酸铀（ＵＡＣ）负染后测得该球状病毒（ｐｉｎｅｌｌｉａｓｐｈｅｒｉｃａｌｖｉｒｕｓ１．ＰｓＶ－１）的大小为３１．７ｎｍ;戊二醛固定后磷钨酸（ＰＴＡ）负染测得ＰｓＶ—１的大小为３４．０ｎｍ。各组分经ＳＤＳ－聚丙烯酸胺凝焦电泳分析测得线状病毒和球状病毒的外壳蛋白分子量分别为２０ＫＤ和２８ＫＤ。初步确定线状病毒为ＤＭＶ．球状病毒ＰｓＶ—１为侵梁天南星科半夏的一种新病毒。     

Translation of HTLV (human T-cell leukemia virus) RNA in a nuclease-treated rabbit reticulocyte system

A human type-C retrovirus, designated HTLV (human T-cell leukemia virus), was isolated from the HTLV producer cell line MT-2. Agarose gel electrophoresis analysis 32P-labeled HTLVMT-2 virion RNA revealed that HTLVMT-2 virion RNA consists mainly of 24S and small amounts of 35S and 32S RNAs. The 24S HTLVMT-2 virion RNA and unfractionated HTLVMT-2 virion RNA were translated in a rabbit reticulocyte lysate system in vitro. The predominant polypeptide synthesized from 24S RNA had an apparent mol. wt. of 28 000 (28 K); unfractionated HTLVMT-2 virion RNA directed the synthesis of 53 000 (53 K), 33 000 (33 K) and 28 000 (28 K) polypeptides as main components. Most of the polypeptides synthesised in vitro by translation of HTLVMT-2 virion RNAs possess the same sizes as the proteins formerly designated as ATLA (ATL-associated antigen) in SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunologically precipitated with sera of ATL patients. Therefore, the antigens termed ATLA, found by the serological study of ATL, are HTLVMT-2 encoded polypeptides.     

Purification and some particle properties of anthriscus yellows virus, a phloem-limited semi-persistent aphid-borne virus

Anthriscus yellows virus (AYV), a phloem-limited virus transmitted in the semi-persistent manner by the aphid Cavariella aegopodii, was purified by treatment of leaf extracts with cellulasc, followed by differential and sucrose density gradient centrifugation. ‘The preparations contained isometric particles c. 29 nm in diameter which were unstable unless stored in buffer at pH 8.0 containing 1 mM CaCl₂,. The particles sedimented as two components, ’full‘ nucleoprotein particles with A₂₆₀/A₂₈₀= 1.83 containing about 42% nucleic acid, and ’empty‘ protein shells with A₂₆₀,/A₂₈₀= 0.73; their buoyant densities in CsCl solutions were 1.52 and 1.27 g/cm³. Respectively. Yields of ihe nircleoprotein particles were c. 1.75 mg/kg leaf tissue. The particles contained a single species of RNA, of mol. wt 3.6 × 10 “(10 000 nucleotides). Particle protein preparations contained four electrophoretic species, of mol. wt (× 10³) 35.0, 28.3, 23.3 and 22.3.C. aegopodii did not transmit AYV from purified preparations. A rabbit injected with AYV preparations produced antibodies that coated AYV particles in electron microscope tests, but gave variable reactions in immunosorbent electron microscopy (ISEM), depending on the composition of the medium. No reactions were obtained in enzyme-linked inimunosorbent asjay (ELISA). No serological relationship was detected in ISEM between AYV and any of 10 viruses that resembled it in one or more properties.