Electron microscopy of bluetongue virus RNA

Abstract

RNA fragments were released from bluetongue virus particles using the Kleinschmidt spreading technique. Electron microscopy of viruses in protein monolayers spread on urea showed that each virion liberated an average of about 6 fragments although up to 10 fragments were occasionally observed. A large variation of filament lengths was found with an average of 3,5 µm total composite length and with a maximum of 6,5 µm leading to an estimated RNA molecular mass of 13,6 X 10⁶ . In addition, a background of loose dispersed fragments was invariably found.