Electron microscopic localization of ATPase activity in tobacco cells infected by tobacco etch potyvirus and tobacco mosaic virus

Thin sections of leaves of plants infected by tobacco etch potyvirus (TEV) or tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) were examined for the presence of ATPase activity by electron microscopy. ATPase activity was found as expected in mitochondria, chloroplasts and plasmalemma of both uninfected as well as cells infected by either TEV or TMV. In the TEV-infected cells, ATPase activity was localized to virus-induced vesicles, endoplasmic reticulum and in some cells, to ribosomes attached to the ER. In TMV-infected cells, ATPase activity was found in vesicles as well as in tubular membranes closely associated with the X-bodies.