Mechanism for release of RNA from turnip yellow mosaic virus at high pH

The formation of empty protein shells from intact turnip yellow mosaic virus (TYMV) following treatment at alkaline pH has been investigated. The loss of viral RNA is accompanied by the release of a small amount of protein which has sedimentation properties expected for aggregates of about five to eight coat protein subunits. These results imply that the release of RNA at elevated pH occurs concomitantly with the removal of a discrete amount of protein from the virus shell. The protein released may be associated with the viral RNA since its sedimentation properties are altered following treatment with pancreatic ribonuclease.