Biophysical Studies on the RNA Cores of Satellite Tobacco Mosaic Virus

Satellite tobacco mosaic virus (STMV) was probed using a variety of proteases. Consequences of the degradation were analyzed using gel electrophoresis, quasi-elastic light scattering (QELS), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Proteolysis rates of 30 minutes for complete degradation of the protein capsid, up to many hours, were investigated. With each protease, degradation of virions 17 nm in diameter was shown by QELS to result in particles of...