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Electron microscopic studies of the different topological forms of the cauliflower mosaic virus DNA: knotted encapsidated DNA and nuclear minichromosome.
Author(s) -
Ménissier J.,
Murcia G.,
Lebeurier G.,
Hirth L.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
the embo journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 7.484
H-Index - 392
eISSN - 1460-2075
pISSN - 0261-4189
DOI - 10.1002/j.1460-2075.1983.tb01547.x
Subject(s) - minichromosome , biology , nucleosome , cauliflower mosaic virus , dna , chromatin , genetics , gene , genetically modified crops , transgene
Cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) DNA exists under different topological forms in infected plants. First, the population of encapsidated CaMV DNA molecules appears heterogeneous when analysed by gel electrophoresis. The electron microscopic study reported here reveals that CaMV virion DNA contains simple and multiple topological knots. Second, a supercoiled DNA form never found in virions exists as a chromatin‐like nucleoprotein complex with nucleosome subunits in the nuclei of infected leaves. The compaction ratio of the minichromosomes is compatible with the nucleosomal structure, the number of nucleosomes (41.0 +/‐ 2.5) is in keeping with the length of the viral genome.