Describe the structure of Tobacco Mosaic Virus.

Explanation

Electron micorscopic studies have revealed that TMV is a rod shaped helical virus measuring about `280 xx 150 mu m` with a molecular weight `39 xx 10^(6)` Daltons. The virion is made up of two constituents, a protein coat called capsid and a core called nucleic acid. The protein coat is made up of approximately 2130 identical protein subunits called capsomers which are present around a central single stranded RNA molecule. The genetic information necessary for the formation of a complete TMV particle is contained in its RNA. The RNA consists of 6,500 nucleotides.