Lucerne transient streak virus RNA and its translation in rabbit reticulocyte lysate and wheat germ extract

Two abundant, encapsidated RNAs of lucerne transient streak virus (LTSV) are the 1.5 x 10(6) molecular weight (Mr) linear RNA-1 and both circular (RNA-2) and linear (RNA-3) forms of a 0.15 x 10(6) Mr viroid-like RNA. Two additional discrete minor RNAs, Mr 0.35 x 10(6) and 0.07 x 10(6), and a heterogeneous mixture of RNAs in the Mr range 0.05 to 1.0 x 10(6) are reported. Principal polypeptides translated from unfractionated LTSV RNA in rabbit reticulocyte lysate were of Mr 105,000 (p105), 78,000 (p78), and 33,000 (p33), the last not easily detected after translation in wheat germ extracts. All apparently are encoded in RNA-1. However, p33, which was precipitated by antibody of LTSV particles and presumably is the major capsid protein, was more readily translated from a smaller, most likely the Mr 0.35 x 10(6), RNA. Partial proteolysis and other tests indicate that p105 has a carboxyl terminal extension of p78 amino acid sequences and that neither shares sequences with p33. No translation products were attributed to RNA-2, RNA-3 or the Mr 0.07 x 10(6) RNA.