WHEAT STREAK MOSAIC-VIRUS CYLINDRICAL INCLUSION BODY PROTEIN

A protein of apparent molecular weight 66,000 was purified from wheat plants infected with wheat streak mosaic virus. Antiserum to this protein, labelled with gold, specifically stained cylindrical inclusions in ultrathin sections of virus-infected cells. Antiserum to the Mr 66,000 protein did not react with capsid protein in Western blots, nor did antiserum to capsid protein react with the Mr 66,000 protein. Both antisera reacted with homologous antigens. The concentration of the Mr 66,000 protein in extracts from infected leaves was about 100 .mu.g per g of leaves, which is higher than the usual concentration of virions.