Highly Infectious RNA Isolated from Cowpea Chlorotic Mottle Virus with Low Specific Infectivity

Abstract

SUMMARYRecovery and specific infectivity of infectious RNA from cowpea chlorotic mottle virus of low specific infectivity (14 to 2I day infections) were greatly improved by using antioxidants during virus purification and RNA extraction, and by disrupting coat protein with pronase before phenol-SDS extraction. Total infectivity of RNA from virus of low infectivity was increased over 30 times. RNA profiles obtained using polyacrylamide gels were then similar for virus with high (4 to 7 day infections) or low specific infectivity. Low specific infectivity, therefore, seems to be caused by alteration of the coat protein or of the protein-RNA interaction in intact virus particles.