Abstract: The RNA genome was purified from tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) infecting Chinese tobacco plants. The cDNA of the gene encoding 54 kD protein of TMV was synthesized using the RNA genome as template, and a piece of artificial oligonucleotide as primer. The eDNA was cloned into pBluescript, generating pRC19, and identified by restriction endonuclease digestion. Determination of the nucleotlde sequence of the eDNA fragment shows that the gene is 1422 bp in length and encodes a protein of 474 amino acids. The gene is highly homologous in DNA sequence to that of TMV U1 strain. The deduced amino acid sequence of the 54 kD proteins of both strains are identical. The 54 kD gene was transformed to tobacco plants and the transgenic calli growing on selective medium were obtained.

Key words: Tobacco mosaic virus, Viral 54 kD gene, Anti-virus plant genecic engineering