Double-stranded RNAs and proteins associated with the 34 nm virus particles of the cultivated mushroom Agaricus bisporus

Abstract

Agaricus bisporus fruit bodies affected by La France disease contain a specific set of nine dsRNA molecules. A method was developed to isolate intact virus particles containing these dsRNAs. Using precautions to limit proteolysis, virus particles 34 nm in diameter were banded in a Nycodenz gradient together with the nine disease-associated dsRNAs and three proteins of M(r) 120K, 115K and 90K. Two of these viral proteins were easily cleaved by proteases present in the fruit bodies, without affecting the morphological appearance, migration in Nycodenz density gradients or dsRNA content of the virus.