Characterization and preliminary mapping of cauliflower mosaic virus transcripts

Using Northern blot analysis we have studied the transcription of the CM4-184 Ga. strain of cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) DNA. This analysis reveals that this CaMV strain, like the Cabb-BS and the Cabb B-JI strains, produces both a genomic length transcript and a 1900-nucleotide (nt) transcript during infection. In addition, we detect an 1800-nt PA+ transcript mapping primarily to the EcoRI-c region of the virus, and three apparent minor viral-specific PA + RNAs of 4900, 4500, and 4300 nt. We also report the presence of two small viral single-stranded DNAs produced during infection, and show that both DNAs are derived from the EcoRI-b region of the virus.