In vitro decapsidation of turnip yellow mosaic virus investigated by cryo-electron microscopy: a model for the decapsidation of a small isometric virus

• Published in: Journal of general virology 1992-08, Vol.73 (8), p.2079-2083
• Main Authors: Adrian, M, Timmins, P. A, Witz, J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Capsid - metabolism; Capsid - ultrastructure; Cryoultramicrotomy; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Microbiology; Microscopy, Electron; Models, Biological; Mosaic Viruses - metabolism; Mosaic Viruses - ultrastructure; Replicative cycle, interference, host-virus relations, pathogenicity, miscellaneous strains; RNA, Viral - ultrastructure; turnip yellow mosaic virus; Vegetables - microbiology; Virology
• ISSN: 0022-1317; 1465-2099
• DOI: 10.1099/0022-1317-73-8-2079

1 EMBL, Grenoble Outstation, BP 156X, 38042 Grenoble Cedex, 2 Institut Laue Langevin, BP 156X, 38042 Grenoble Cedex and 3 Département d'Immunochimie, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire du C.N.R.S., 15 rue Descartes, 67084 Strasbourg Cedex, France The in vitro decapsidation of a small isometric plant virus, turnip yellow mosaic virus (TYMV), was investigated by cryo-electron microscopy. Cryo-electron micrographs of TYMV and empty shells show that rapidly frozen virions still contain their RNA. Images of vitrified virions resemble closely those previously obtained by negative staining. Rapidly frozen virions decapsidate upon thawing although they remain well dispersed on the grid. The escape of the RNA through a hole at the periphery of the capsid could be visualized. The results suggest a model for the in situ decapsidation of small icosahedral viruses. Present address: Laboratoire de Microscopie Electronique, Université de Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne-Dorigny, Switzerland. Received 11 December 1991; accepted 31 March 1992.