Expression of the 69K movement protein of turnip yellow mosaic virus in insect cells.

The nonstructural 69-kilodalton (K) protein of turnip yellow mosaic virus is necessary for systemic spread of the virus within the plant. To examine the behavior of the 69K protein in vivo, antibodies were raised against the carboxy-terminal region of this protein. The full-length 69K protein was also expressed in insect cells using a recombinant baculovirus. Studies on the posttranslational modifications of the 69K protein in insect cells revealed that the protein is phosphorylated but not glycosylated. Further experiments of subcellular fractionation and indirect immunolocalization in insect cells showed that the 69K protein is localized in the cytoplasm and/or in the plasma membrane.