Nucleic acid binding properties of the 92‐kDa replicase subunit of alfalfa mosaic virus produced in yeast

Abstract

The 92‐kDa non‐structural protein of alfalfa mosaic virus (one of the replicase subunits) was synthesized by Saccharomyces cerevisiae transformed with a recombinant expression vector. The yeast‐expressed protein had the immunological and size characteristics of the naturally made viral protein. It was partially purified and its nucleic acid binding properties were tested by gel‐retardation electrophoresis and nitrocellulose adsorption. The protein interacted with single‐standed RNA, double‐standed RNA and double‐stranded DNA in a salt‐dependent manner, with a slight preference for RNA. These properties may be related to its putative function as a core RNA polymerase. Copyright © 1992, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved