The wild type protein tolerates increased temperatures during assembly into virus particles. Many of the mutant coat proteins are temperature-sensitive, i.e. no regular quaternary structure develops at risen temperature. Several interesting observations have been made. Whether these exchanges have a direct impact on the processes involved in symptom development, or whether they are merely concomitant is not known yet. In order to start replicating within a cell, the RNA has to be released from its protein coat.
Replication takes place within the cytoplasm.
The gene for the coat protein does not belong to them. Subsequently, the transcription product is cut proteolytically into smaller polypeptides. Meanwhile, the sometimes only partial nucleotide sequences of a number of virus species are known. Parts of the RNA molecules are able to fold into a secondary structure resembling a tRNA . It remains unknown whether this phenomenon is linked to the symptoms displayed by the infected plant or to the replication of the viruses.