Disassembly of tobacco mosaic virus by membrane lipid isolated from tobacco leaves and polyornithine.

In vitro disassembly of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) virions occurred in the presence of both polyornithine and a lipid fraction isolated from tobacco leaf membrane. The latter could be replaced by lecithine. Disassembly of 10 microgram of TMV virions was attained in the presence of a 500-mg leaf equivalent of membrane lipid and 20 microgram of polyornithine in 1 ml of 0.01 M Tris-HCl buffer, pH 7.4 at 30 C. Similarity and dissimilarity between the in vitro disassembly and the in vivo uncoating mechanisms are discussed.