Complementary DNA cloning and hybridization analysis of maize stripe virus RNAs

Cloned cDNAs were used to assess the relationships of the RNAs isolated from maize stripe virus (MStV) virion-like nucleoproteins. Northern blot hybridization analysis showed no detectable sequence homology between the five different sized RNAs; however, cDNAs which hybridized with a specific ssRNA also hybridized with a specific dsRNA. Hybridization analysis of denatured MStV RNAs using ssRNA riboprobes of opposite polarities showed that for each of the five MStV RNAs, opposite, complementary polarity RNAs were present. However, unequal amounts of complementary polarities for each size RNA were detected, and the polarity of the RNA in excess was primarily detectable as ssRNA.