NUCLEIC ACIDS ENCODING LETTUCE BIG-VEIN VIRUS PROTEINS AND UTILIZATION THEREOF

摘要

A coat protein is purified from highly refined lettuce big-vein virus and a partial amino acid sequence thereof is determined. By a polymerase chain reaction with the use of primers which are designed based on the amino acid sequence data thus determined, an RNA encoding lettuce big-vein virus coat protein is cloned and its primary structure is clarified. By effecting 3'RACE and 5'RACE with the use of primers which are designed on the basis of the sequence data thus obtained, RNA molecules of plural proteins encoded by lettuce big-vein virus are further isolated and the primary structures thereof are successfully determined. Similarly, an RNA encoding lettuce big-vein virus polymerase is successfully isolated and its primary structure is determined. Thus, it is found out that a lettuce big-vein virus-tolerant lettuce species might be constructed and the infection with lettuce big-vein virus might be diagnosed by using the above data.