Turnip Crinkle Virus

Turnip crinkle virus (TCV) is a plant pathogenic virus of the family Tombusviridae. It was first isolated from turnip (Brassica campestris ssp. rapa). TCV is a small (4054 base pairs), single-stranded, positive-sense RNA virus (viral RNA is in the same orientation as mRNA). It has been shown to infect various types of plant species (including Nicotiana benthamiana) including the common plant model, Arabidopsis thaliana. Its gRNA encodes for five proteins: p28 and p88 (replication), p8 and p9 (movement) and CP (coat protein or encapsidation). The structure of the virus was determined to 3.2 Ångstrom resolution using x-ray crystallography in 1986. It is structurally quite similar to the tomato bushy stuntvirus.