Translation in vitro of ribonucleic acids from potato virus X, potato virus M and white clover mosaic virus.

Ribonucleic acids from three plant viruses: potato virus X (PVX), potato virus M (PVM) and white clover mosaic virus (WClMV) have been purified and used as messengers in a wheat germ cell-free system. It was demonstrated that each of these viruses contained heavy genomic RNA species of mol. wt. about 2 x 10(6), which appeared to be very efficient templates for protein synthesis in vitro. The synthesis of high-molecular-weight polypeptides: 180 x 10(3), 190 x 10(3) and 170 x 10(3) was directed by PVX, PVM and WClMV RNAs, respectively. None of the polypeptides directed by any of the RNAs studied corresponded to the coat proteins.