Characterisation of cauliflower mosaic virus DNA sequences which encode major polyadenylated transcripts.

Cauliflower mosaic virus DNA sequences which encode two major polyadenylated RNA species, the 1.9 kb messenger RNA for the 62,000 MW virus inclusion body polypeptide and 35S RNA, were mapped using the nuclease 51 procedure. The 1.9 kb RNA has an eleven nucleotide leader sequence transcribed from alpha-strand DNA located at co-ordinate 0.72 m.u. (map units), immediately upstream of the AUG initiation codon of reading frame VI. The 3'-end of 1.9 kb RNA maps at 0.95 m.u. and is co-terminal with the 3'-end of 35S RNA, a complete transcript of the DNA alpha-strand. The 5'-end of 35S RNA maps at 0.93 m.u. and is located upstream of the discontinuity G1 (zero m.u.) in the alpha-strand and some 200 nucleotides upstream of the sequence encoding its own 3'-terminus.