It is Rous sarcoma virus protein P12 and not P19 that binds tightly to Rous sarcoma virus RNA.

The interactions between Rous Sarcoma virus (RSV) RNA and the viral proteins in the virus have been analysed by Sen & Todaro (1977) using ultraviolet light irradiation; they showed that the major protein ultraviolet light cross-linked to the viral RNA was P19 as identified by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. We report here that it is not viral protein P19 but P12 that binds tightly to RSV RNA upon ultraviolet light irradiation of the virus. Therefore, the binding sites of the viral protein along RSV RNA that we have characterized previously should be correctly attributed now to P12 and not P19.