Electron Microscope Studies of Tumor Virus RNA

Abstract

The principal component of the RNA of RNA tumor viruses, as extracted from the virion, is a complex which sediments at 60–70S and is estimated to have a molecular weight of approximately 107 daltons. When subjected to denaturing conditions, this complex dissociates to give several large components with sedimentation coefficients of ∼ 35S and some lower molecular weight components with sedimentation coefficients in the range 4–10S. The mobilities in gel electrophoresis for these several large and small components are consistent with molecular weight estimates from their sedimentation coefficients (Temin 1974; Bolognesi 1974).