Immunochemical studies of tobacco mosaic virus--V. Localization of four epitopes in the protein subunit by inhibition tests with synthetic peptides and cleavage peptides from three strains.

Two antigenic determinants have been located in the vicinity of residues 1-10 and 34-39 of the coat protein of tobacco mosaic virus by means of ELISA and complement fixation inhibition experiments with synthetic peptides. The determinant present in residues 1-10 is also expressed at the outer surface of the subunits when they are assembled into virions. Two other determinants expressed in the dissociated protein subunit have been located in the vicinity of residues 55-61 and 80-90 by means of inhibition tests with tryptic peptides. These results bring to seven the number of antigenic determinants of the protein subunit that have been located.