| Abstract: | Diminutive viral RNAs recovered from tobacco leaves inoculated with 32P-TMV were investigated. At 3.5 hr after inoculation, most of the viral RNA without coat protein revealed two peaks after sucrose density gradient analysis of SDS-extract from 12,000 × g leaf pellet. The first peak appeared between bacterial ribosomal RNA of 16 S and 5 S and the second peak was around 5 S. These two peaks were digestible with RNase and they appeared as early as 5 min after inoculation. These diminutive RNAs seemed to be derived from partially uncoated parental virus by abscission of their naked RNA tails. The active formation of these diminutive RNAs and their early appearance after inoculation seemed to indicate that most of the inoculated TMV received incomplete uncoating. |
