RT Journal Article SR Electronic(1) A1 Demler, Steven A. A1 Borkhsenious, Olga N. A1 Rucker, Deborah G. A1 de Zoeten, G. A.YR 1994 T1 Assessment of the Autonomy of Replicative and Structural Functions Encoded by the Luteo-phase of Pea Enation Mosaic Virus JF Journal of General Virology, VO 75 IS 5 SP 997 OP 1007 DO https://doi.org/10.1099/0022-1317-75-5-997 PB Microbiology Society, SN 1465-2099, AB The genome of pea enation mosaic virus (PEMV) is composed of two taxonomically unrelated RNAs, interacting to create what has traditionally been considered a bipartite virus. The cohesiveness of this interaction was assessed by examining the autonomy of each RNA in viral replication, coat protein expression and systemic invasion. Using a pea protoplast system, in vitro transcripts of RNA1 were found to be capable of initiating RNA 2-independent replication, including the formation of the distinctive nuclear membrane-based replication complex associated with wild-type PEMV infection. Western blotting and electron microscopic analysis demonstrated that the synthesis of the RNA1- encoded coat protein, as well as virion assembly, was also independent of RNA2-directed functions. Mechanical inoculations with transcripts of RNA 1 failed to establish a systemic RNA1 infection, whereas inoculations with RNA 2 were able to establish a largely asymptomatic systemic infection. Combined inoculum containing RNA1 and RNA2 transcripts were able to recreate wild-type PEMV symptomatology, demonstrating the dependence of RNA 1 on RNA 2 for mechanical passage. With the notable exception of the adaptation of PEMV to establish a true systemic invasion, these data further strengthen the analogy between PEMV and the helper-dependent complexes associated with members of the luteovirus group., UL https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jgv/10.1099/0022-1317-75-5-997