Studies on the intracellular distribution of Sindbis messenger RNA in infected chick embryo fibroblasts. 2. Non-parallel distribution of 26-S RNA and ribosomes within microsomal subfractions.

The submicrosomal distribution of membrane-associated viral 26-S RNA in chick embryo fibroblasts infected with Sindbis virus was studied. Infected chick embryo fibroblasts were homogenized in the presence of low amounts of EDTA and fractionated by differential centrifugation. Analysis of postmitochondrial supernatants by isopycnic flotation on continuous sucrose gradients showed that membrane-associated 26-S RNA and ribosomes were not distributed in parallel, with an enrichment in 26-S RNA in the light microsomal subfractions. This distribution could not be explained by adsorption artifacts. Analysis of the distribution of microsomal constituents on sucrose gradients after treatment with digitonin ruled out the possibility that the 26-S RNA might be associated with Golgi or plasma membranes. The attachment of viral RNAs to endoplasmic reticulum membranes is discussed in relation to its possible role in viral morphogenesis.