UV-induced curing of the double-stranded RNA virus of the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica

Summary Curing of the viruslike particles harbored by a strain of the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica was achieved by UV irradiation. The cured strain was found to be able to maintain the viruslike particles after their re-introduction by crossing or by cytoplasmic fusion. The involvement of a UV-induced mutation of a yeast maintenance gene seems therefore unlikely.Abbreviations UV ultraviolet - dsRNA double-stranded RNA - VLPs viruslike particles, A and B alleles of the mating type locus - TCA trichloracetic acid