Rotavirus RNA Segments Sized by Electron Microscopy

Abstract

SUMMARYThe RNA segments of bovine rotavirus (UK Compton strain) were measured by electron microscopy in mixtures containing q~X174 double-stranded DNA as an internal reference molecule. The numbers of base pairs per segment were calculated and compared with data obtained by other procedures (comparative RNA gel electrophoresis; co-electrophoresis of cDNAs in denaturing gels; sequencing).

Biophysical Characterization of Rotavirus Particles Containing Rearranged Genomes

“…The rotavirus genome consists of 11 segments of dsRNA. The segments of group A rotaviruses have between 660 and approximately 3400 bp, resulting in a total genome size of approximately 18 600 bp (Holmes, 1983 ;Rixon et al, 1984).…”

Reassortment of Human Rotaviruses Carrying Rearranged Genomes with Bovine Rotavirus

“…The sizes of individual BRV RNA segments had been determined independently (Rixon et al, 1984), and plots of their size (log scale) against distance of electrophoretic migration on gels served as calibration lines (Shatkin et al, 1968).…”

Morphological and genomic characterization of two reoviruses (P and W2) pathogenic for marine crustaceans; do they constitute a novel genus of the Reoviridae family?

“…~bX174 replicative form circular DNA was used as internal standard for the length measurement of RNA molecules, using a Kurta digitizer connected to a microcomputer. A correction factor of 1-15 was used for calculation of the length of dsRNA from that of dsDNA molecules (Rixon et al, 1984). All observations were made with a Hitachi HU11C transmission electron microscope operating at 75 kV.…”

“…The data were converted into kbp, assuming that ~bX174 D N A was 5386 bp. For the viral dsRNA we used a correction factor of 1.15 as determined for ReoIII (Rixon et al, 1984), instead of 1.19 as determined by Miiller & Nitschke (1987).…”