Analysis of oncornavirus RNA subunits by electron microscopy

Subunits of oncornavirus (avian myeloblastosis virus) RNA were isolated from purified 60--70S viral RNA by heat dissociation. Molecules sedimenting at 35 S, assumed to be the major component of the viral genome, were visualized in the electron microscope and their lengths were statistically analyzed. The results indicate a rather heterogeneous population of molecules with five distinct, reproducible size groups, an observation that excludes the assumption of random degradation of the genome. In addition, molecules of 28 and 18S RNA, always present in oncornavirus RNA preparations, were examined with the same methods. Some of these molecules possess secondary-structure regions similar to those characteristic for ribosomal RNA.