Tobacco Mosaic Virus with Emphasis on the Events Within the Host Cell Following Infection

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter presents the structure and properties (physical, chemical, and biological) of the tobacco mosaic virus (TMV). TMV is a rod-shaped particle. The virus particle is built up of a helical array of subunits set about the long axis of the particle. The protein subunits of the TMV are packed together in such a way as to leave space for the RNA between them. Thus, the RNA is embedded tightly between protein subunits. The self assembly of protein subunits to form a helical structure similar to that of TMV can take place with or without RNA. However, the association of RNA contributes to the stability of the completed particle. The chapter also discusses the events that take place within the host cell following infection with TMV. TMV is composed of 95% protein and 5% RNA. This RNA is released into the host cell to initiate infection. The parental viral RNA may remain bound to the nuclear structures in the host cell and does not enter the pool of newly synthesized viral RNA (progeny viral RNA), which is rapidly assembled into the progeny TMV. The parental RNA localized in the nucleus performs dual functions: one is that of a messenger directing the synthesis of the needed enzymes and the other is that of a template in the synthesis of its complementary strand.