ELECTRON MICROSCOPE STUDIES ON REOVIRUS RNA

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Abstract
Double-stranded RNA molecules can be visualized and measured in electron microscope. Evidence is presented for extensive breakage of the RNA molecules during extraction from the virus particles. These results may explain the lack of infectivity in reovirus RNA preparations. The longest free RNA strand observed was 1.58 [mu] with a calculated molecular weight of 3.8 X 106 Daltons. The total amount of RNA seen associated with one virus particle was 8.0 X 106 Daltons. When molecular weight determinations from length measurements in the electron micrographs were correlated with molecular weights determined by sedimentation analysis, the results indicated that in solution double-stranded RNA molecules may have a more compact configuration than double-stranded DNA molecules.