DEMONSTRATION OF THE UNIVERSALITY OF THE GENETIC CODE in vivo BY COMPARISON OF THE COAT PROTEINS SYNTHESIZED IN DIFFERENT PLANTS BY TOBACCO MOSAIC VIRUS RNA

The amino acid sequence of the coat protein of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) synthesized in the garden zinnia (Compositae family) is compared with that synthesized in tobacco (Solanaceae family) by using the same preparation of TMV-RNA as messenger. The Compositae family is the most advanced group, and the Solanaceae family is a relatively advanced group in the plant kingdom. Both amino acid sequences are identical, including acetylserine as the N-terminal amino acid. This gives direct evidence that the RNA codon in vivo in the plant kingdom is universal between Compositae and Solanaceae families.