LOCALIZATION OF A SINGLE-STRANDED RNA-BINDING DOMAIN IN THE MOVEMENT PROTEIN OF RED-CLOVER NECROTIC MOSAIC DIANTHOVIRUS

Mutant movement proteins of red clover necrotic mosaic dianthovirus (R CNMV), consisting of in-frame deletions or fusions with a maltose-bind ing protein, were produced in Escherichia coli using expression vector s. The ability of the mutant proteins to bind to ssRNA was tested by p hotochemical cross-linking and gel retardation. The results showed tha t the region between amino acids 181 and 225 of the RCNMV movement pro tein contains an ssRNA-binding domain.