In vitro translation of cucumoviral satellites. I. Purification and nucleotide sequence of cucumber mosaic virus-associated RNA 5 from cucumber mosaic virus strain S

Analysis of the genome of satellite panicum mosaic virus

The relatedness of the genomes of satellite panicum mosaic virus (SPMV) and its helper virus, panicum mosaic virus (PMV), were investigated by nucleic acid hybridization. The results show that the satellite and helper virus RNAs have no appreciable homology or complementarity as assessed by hybridization with cDNA probes derived from the genomes of PMV and SPMV and with a probe complementary to the 3' terminus of SPMV RNA. The complete nucleotide sequence of SPMV RNA reveals that the genome is 826 nucleotides (nt) long. The ability to label SPMV RNA with polynucleotide kinase only after phosphatase treatment suggests that the 5' terminus is phosphorylated, but the extent of phosphorylation was not determined. The first open reading frame (ORF), encountered after an 88-nt 5'-untranslated region, encodes a 17,000 mol wt protein of a size and amino acid composition that are consistent with analysis of SPMV coat protein. An additional short ORF, located near the 3' end of the RNA, could encode a 6300 mol wt polypeptide. The minus strand also contains two ORFs that could potentially encode polypeptides of 7100 and 11,000 mol wt. No evidence is available to determine whether the second positive-strand ORF or the two minus-strand ORFs are expressed. The data presented here clearly show the SPMV RNA is distinct from the RNAs of other satellite viruses, in both size and nucleotide sequence. However, the 5'-untranslated portions of SPMV and satellite tobacco mosaic virus RNAs share some structural features that may be important in initiation of translation.

Biological activity of T7 transcripts of a prototype clone and a sequence variant clone of a satellite RNA of cucumber mosaic virus

Molecular cloning of the (D)CARNA 5 (previously known as n-CARNA 5) necrosis-inducing satellite RNA of cucumber mosaic virus produced a prototype clone (pDsat4) and a sequence variant clone (pDsat1). pDsat1 contained 10 nucleotide changes between positions 70 and 160 which rendered that region identical to the corresponding region of a satellite RNA which does not induce necrosis. T7 RNA polymerase transcripts of each clone replicated in both tobacco and tomato, and the progeny satellite RNAs did not retain the 57-nucleotide non-satellite sequence at the 5' ends of the T7 transcripts. RNase T1 fingerprint analysis of both T7 transcripts and progeny satellite RNAs proved that the satellite sequence portion of each transcript was faithfully replicated in tobacco, and the variations in pDsat1 relative to pDsat4 were maintained. Replication of transcripts of either pDsat4 or pDsat1 in tomato resulted in lethal necrosis, suggesting that the determinant of necrosis induction lies outside the region between nucleotides 70 and 160.

Viral Satellite RNA Expression in Transgenic Tomato Confers Field Tolerance to Cucumber Mosaic Virus

Field trials of transgenic tomato plants expressing an ameliorative satellite RNA of cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) were conducted to test the efficacy of satellite-transgenic technology to protect against CMV infection. Three transgenic tomato lines derived from two susceptible genotypes were evaluated over two growing seasons for viral symptoms and titers, satellite RNA expression, and fruit yield. Satellite-transgenic lines exhibited mild or no CMV symptoms and low viral titers relative to nontransformed plants. A significant negative correlation between satellite RNA levels and disease severity was evident in transgenic lines. Total marketable yield of CMV-infected satellite-transgenic lines was 40 to 84% greater than that of CMV-infected parent lines. Importantly, yield of CMV-infected satellite-transgenic lines did not differ significantly from mock-inoculated parent lines. Risk assessment results demonstrated low levels of satellite RNA transmission within the test site and no evidence of satellite RNA-induced damage on surrounding plants.

Effect of temperature on cucumber mosaic virus satellite-induced lethal tomato necrosis is helper virus strain dependent

The effect of temperature on the response of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. Rutgers) to infections with the necrogenic cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) satellite D-CARNA 5 was investigated with each of four CMV strains D, 1, Y and S functioning as helper virus. At 24 degrees C lethal necrosis was observed in all infections. However, at 32 degrees C the response varied from total absence or reduction of necrosis with some strains to accelerated lethal necrosis with others. The total lack of necrotic response with CMV-S and the aggravated necrosis with CMV-Y at the higher temperature both turned out to be independent of the coinfecting satellite, and rather to correlate with the changing rate of viral RNA accumulation in tomato, which probably was responsible for the changes in pathogenic response. However, when CMV-D was helper virus, satellite accumulation decreased, while with CMV-1 it increased, respectively, while viral RNA accumulations were not seriously affected. Although these profound effects of temperature seem to link the necrotic response of tomato to the competitive replication dynamics of the infecting virus/satellite combination in the case of CMV-D/D-CARNA 5, temperature effects at other levels of disease induction probably play an important role as well.

The replication of a necrogenic cucumber mosaic virus satellite is temperature-sensitive in tomato

Lethal necrosis development in tomato plants infected with cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) strain D containing the necrogenic satellite D-CARNA 5 and held at 32 degrees C is shown to be impaired. CARNA 5 accumulation in tomato at 32 degrees C is reduced about 100-fold compared to accumulation in plants held at 24 degrees C, while viral RNA accumulation is reduced about 5-fold. CMV-infected tomato held for 3 days at 24 degrees C prior to shift to 32 degrees C do not develop lethal necrosis. Longer incubations at 24 degrees C prior to shift to 32 degrees C allow necrosis to develop. CMV-infected plants held for up to 4 weeks at 32 degrees C required an additional 8-10 days at 24 degrees C to develop necrosis. Necrogenic CMV-infected plants held at 24 degrees C and analyzed 3 days p.i. contained detectable amounts of ss- and ds-CARNA 5; upon shift to 32 degrees C, such CARNA 5 declined to undetectable levels and lethal necrosis did not occur. There appear to be temperature-sensitive factors that are required for efficient satellite replication which are not required for efficient viral RNA replication. Whether these factor(s) are of host or satellite origin is uncertain.

Competition of viral and satellite RNAs of cucumber mosaic virus for replication in vitro by viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase

Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) satellite RNA-induced viral symptom modulation is usually accompanied by a significant reduction of virus accumulation in plant tissue, which has led to the hypothesis that satellite RNA competes with the viral RNAs for replication by the viral replicase and thereby reduces viral RNA synthesis and viral symptoms. In this report, the RNA synthesis of the viral and satellite RNAs of CMV was studied in vitro using an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) purified from CMV-infected plants. Comparison of the kinetics of the CMV RdRp-catalysed RNA synthesis using as templates viral RNAs and satellite RNA, alone or in an appropriate mixture, showed that these RNAs competed with each other for RNA synthesis by the CMV RdRp. Determination of the rates of 32P incorporation into the viral and satellite double-stranded RNA products revealed an apparent replication advantage of the satellite RNA over viral RNAs. The results provide strong support for a previously proposed biochemical mechanism that attributes CMV satellite-induced viral symptom modulation to the replication competition between the satellite and viral RNAs.

Cucumber mosaic virus-associated RNA 5. XIII.--Opposite necrogenicities in tomato of variants with large 5' half insertion/deletion regions

Two satellite RNA of cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) designated J876-CARNA-5 (for cucumber mosaic virus-associated RNA-5) and D27-CARNA-5 have been molecularly and biologically characterized. J876-CARNA-5 (387 nucleotides (nt)) and D27-CARNA-5 (391 nt) have nearly identical 5' half insertion/deletion regions where 120 nt replace approximately 70 nt of D-CARNA-5 (335 nt), the first variant described and sequenced. J876-CARNA-5 possesses the 15-nt conserved sequence element in its 3' half which is present in all tomato necrogenic variants and induces the same level of necrosis in tomatoes as the prototype necrogenic D-CARNA-5. D27-CARNA-5 lacks the 3' half necrosis-determining element and attenuates the CMV symptoms in tomato. Transcripts of cloned cDNA of J876-CARNA-5 were stably propagated in tomato in the presence of CMV-1. Purified J876-CARNA-5 progeny, inoculated with CMV-1 in a quantitative bioassay, induced tomato necrosis at the same dilution level as the natural satellite. Several computer-generated secondary structures of CMV satellites were examined and the possible correlation of a defined secondary structural element with necrosis induction is discussed.

Replication of satellite RNA in vitro by homologous and heterologous cucumoviral RNA-dependent RNA polymerases

The RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RdRp) of cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) and peanut stunt virus (PSV), members of the cucumovirus group, have been purified from virus infected plants and were used to study RNA synthesis in vitro using different viral RNAs, two cucumoviral satellites, and chimeric satellite cDNA clone transcripts as templates. The results show that solubilized RdRp preparations of CMV and PSV have a high degree of template dependency and catalyze (-) strand synthesis of the homologous cucumoviral RNAs with greater efficiency than the RNAs of heterologous cucumoviruses, although the PSV RdRp exhibits a lesser specificity than the CMV RdRp. On the other hand, both (-) and (+) strands of the satellite RNAs of CMV and PSV are synthesized by their homologous but not by the heterologous viral RdRps, indicating that recognition of satellites by the viral RdRp determines their replicative dependence upon specific helper viruses. Cucumoviral RdRp reactions using chimeric satellite transcripts suggest that the promoter structure for the satellite (-) strand synthesis resides in regions harboring the 3' termini of the two satellites.

Structural similarities between the RNAs of two satellites of tobacco necrosis virus

The complete nucleotide sequence of satellite tobacco necrosis virus 2 (STNV-2) RNA has been determined. It has the same organization as the previously studied STNV-1 RNA. The 5' untranslated regions (about 30 nt) are nearly identical, while the coat protein coding regions (about 600 nt) have 55% nucleotide sequence similarity. The 620-nt-long trailer sequences, with 64% nucleotide sequence conservation, can fold into a phylogenetically conserved secondary structure consisting of three pseudoknots followed by a long-range interaction-born hairpin structure. The significance of these elements is discussed in view of the particular properties (stability, translational competitiveness, and replication) that characterize these RNAs.

Secondary structure as a constraint on the evolution of a plant viral satellite RNA

The genetic variability and evolution of the satellite RNA (satRNA) of cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) was analyzed. Twenty-five CMV-satRNAs compared clustered into three main groups, and no correlation was found between genetic proximity and other characteristics (pathogenicity, geographical origin) of the satRNAs. Values for the number of nucleotide substitutions per site between any two satRNAs suggest that divergence is checked by functional constraints. The analysis of mutations relative to an ancestral sequence, and the number of substitutions per site at first, second and third positions of codons in putative open reading frames, show that the variation of CMV-satRNAs does not follow a pattern typical of coding sequences, and indicates that preservation of the sequence of encoded products is not a constraint to evolution. On the other hand, when the observed variation was analyzed relative to a secondary structure model proposed for CMV-satRNAs, several lines of evidence indicated that the maintenance of the secondary structure is a constraint to evolution: the number of substitutions per site, the number of point insertions and deletions and the number of base substitutions that would disrupt base-pairing were significantly higher for unpaired than for base-paired positions. Also, compensatory mutations at base-paired positions occurred more frequently than expected from random. The results suggest that CMV-satRNAs are non-coding, functional RNAs whose biology would be determined by their direct interaction with components of the host and/or the helper virus.

Host-associated selection of sequence variants from a satellite RNA of cucumber mosaic virus

The sequence of lx-satRNA, a CMV-satRNA necrogenic for tomato that shows the unusual property of accumulating in cucumber and in squash to levels similar to those in tomato and in tobacco, was determined. When compared with the sequences of other necrogenic CMV-satRNAs that do not show this property, or with a sequence variant of lx-satRNA that retains it, the high accumulation of lx-satRNA in squash was correlated with the presence of two U/C transitions. The sequences of progeny lx-satRNA from passage experiments in tomato and in squash show that a sequence variant having a U at position 102 was selected in tomato and that the parent sequence with a C at 102 was consistently restored in squash when this U-variant was used as inoculum. The results from these passage experiments may be explained by the heterogeneous nature of RNA populations, built from a number of variants of a master sequence, and illustrate the validity of this concept for CMV-satRNAs. The data also show that a minor sequence change, such as the transition C/U at 102, may have a major effect on the fitness of sequence variants of CMV-satRNAs in different hosts, and this may be relevant to the evolution in nature of these small RNAs.

Cucumber-mosaic-virus-associated RNA-5. XII. Symptom-modulating effect is codetermined by the helper virus satellite replication support function

In tomato, the disease-modulating effects of a cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) satellite isolate from Belgium, here designated T-CARNA-5 (CARNA-5 = CMV-associated RNA-5), were found to be different depending on the supporting helper virus strain. With two CMV strains, T-CARNA-5 induced lethal necrosis, but with a third strain from Ixora spp. (CMV-Ix), aggravated stunting was observed. However, the primary structure of the T-CARNA-5 contained within virus isolated from tobacco or tomato infected with each of these three CMV strains, conformed to the conserved sequence profile of CARNA-5 isolates which are necrogenic in tomato. Dilution endpoint bioassay of T-CARNA-5 established a direct cause-effect relationship between it and tomato necrosis or stunting, depending on the helper virus. Total nucleic acid extracts taken at different times from tomato plants infected with the above CMV strains and T- or S-CARNA-5 (used as non-necrogenic control) showed viral RNA, ssCARNA-5 and dsCARNA-5 to be present in significant amounts, but in sometimes dissimilar proportions depending on the combination; except in CMV-Ix/S-CARNA-5 infection where neither ss-nor dsCARNA-5 was found. The experiments established that CARNA-5 biological expression studies in CMV-infected tomato have to take into account the helper virus satellite replication support function, which may be a primary codeterminant of quantitative or qualitative differences in the symptom modulation observed.

In-vitro translation of cucumoviral satellites. III. Translational efficiencies of cucumber mosaic virus-associated RNA 5 sequence variants can be related to the predicted secondary structures of their first 55 nucleotides

The cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) satellites D- and S-CARNA 5 (CARNA 5 = Cucumber mosaic virus-Associated RNA 5), their full-length cDNA clone transcripts, and DNA clone transcripts of their open reading frames (ORFs) were used as mRNAs in the wheat-germ in-vitro translation system. Natural D-CARNA 5 yielded an anomalously large polypeptide, while transcripts made from cDNA clones of D-CARNA 5 or its first ORF had no mRNA activity. Transcripts made from the second major ORF in D-CARNA 5 yielded a smaller product, consistent with its size. Natural S-CARNA 5 and its cDNA clone transcripts both yielded the two polypeptides previously reported, while transcripts of its only major ORF yielded exclusively the smaller of the two products. The potential for an alternate initiation codon, 36 nucleotides upstream, being the source of the larger of the two polypeptides was tested. The differences in the translational properties of D- and S-CARNA 5 were related to the predicted secondary structures of the first 55 nucleotides in these CARNA 5 sequence variants. The calculated free energies of the predicted hairpins correlated inversely with their in-vitro translational activities.

Serial passage of infectious transcripts of a cucumber mosaic virus satellite RNA clone results in sequence heterogeneity

Populations of the D-satellite RNA (D-sat) of cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) have a major site of heterogeneity at which a significant proportion of the molecules vary from each other. The generation of this heterogeneity was investigated by using infectious transcript RNA of a prototype D-sat clone as an inoculum of uniform sequence to initiate serial passages in five different host plant species. RNase protection assays indicated that heterogeneity at the same site seen in natural D-sat RNA populations developed within two to four passages in most of the hosts tested, and the proportion of the population exhibiting this heterogeneity accumulated to a much higher level in tobacco than in the other hosts. Characterization of the heterogeneity which developed in tobacco showed it to be qualitatively different from that in the original D-sat population. This analysis of a CMV satellite RNA is the first example in which infectious transcript RNA from a clone has been used to investigate the rapid generation and selection of heterogeneity in a genomic RNA population replicating in plants.

Identification of a 334-ribonucleotide viral satellite as principal aetiological agent in a tomato necrosis epidemic

Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), a widespread and economically important virus of vegetable crops, often contains a satellite RNA, here designated CARNA-5 (for CMV-associated RNA 5). Viral satellites are small nucleic acids that are sequence-unrelated to, but replicatively dependent upon, the viral genome. They essentially are molecular parasites of their helper viruses, and thereby frequently modulate viral symptom expression. Some isolates of CARNA-5 change normally moderate CMV symptoms in tomato into a lethal disease named tomato necrosis; others ameliorate CMV symptoms in tomato and other important crop plants. Here we report on the identification and molecular characterization of a 334-nucleotide necrogenic CARNA-5 isolated from tomato fields in southern Italy, where a massive outbreak of lethal necrosis occurred in the summer of 1988. This is the first time that direct evidence is given for the involvement of a viral satellite in a crop disease of epidemic scale. The possible molecular interrelationships between plant, virus, satellite and other factors that influence the satellite-induced symptom modulation underlying such a catastrophe are discussed.

RNA sequence heterogeneity in natural populations of three satellite RNAs of cucumber mosaic virus

Sequence heterogeneity within populations of three satellite RNAs of cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) was assessed using two different approaches. Comparison of the nucleotide sequences of several cDNA clones of each satellite RNA revealed microsequence heterogeneity, which is often seen in populations of RNA genomes. RNase protection assays using minus-sense satellite RNA probes were used to detect major sites of heterogeneity within natural populations of each satellite RNA. In RNase protection assays of WL1-sat RNA populations, no major sites of heterogeneity were detected within seven different populations, including preparations from four different host plant species. In contrast, RNase protection assays of nine populations of B1-sat RNA showed three different patterns, which were most likely due to the existence of the B1-sat RNA populations as mixtures in which different sequence variants predominated in different preparations. Assays of five independent populations of D-sat RNA revealed a single major site of heterogeneity which was common to each population and was localized at approximately nucleotide 225 of the 335-nucleotide satellite sequence. This common site of heterogeneity is a feature of the D-sat RNA population structure which may represent an equilibrium between alternative nucleotides at a selectively neutral position, or may be actively selected for and maintained.

A simple method for detection of viral satellite RNAs in small plant tissue samples

A procedure is described that allows extraction and can estimate the total amount of single-stranded and double-stranded viral satellite RNAs and viral RNA present in a minimal amount of infected plant tissue, and is capable of distinguishing different cucumber mosaic viral and nepoviral satellites by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under semi-denaturing or fully-denaturing conditions.

Nucleotide sequence analysis of cDNA encoding the coat protein of cucumber mosaic virus: genome organization and molecular features of the protein

The cDNA sequence coding for the coat protein of cucumber mosaic virus (Japanese Y strain) was cloned, and its nucleotide sequence was determined. The sequence contains an open reading frame that encodes the coat protein composed of 218 amino acids. The nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences of the coat protein of this strain were compared with those of the Q strain; the homologies of the sequences were 78% and 81%, respectively. Further study of the sequences gave an insight into the genome organization and the molecular features of the coat protein. The coding region can be divided into three characteristic regions. The N-terminal region has conserved features in the positively charged structure, the hydropathy pattern and the predicted secondary structure, although the amino acid sequence is varied mainly due to frameshift mutations. It is noteworthy that the positions of arginine residues in this region are highly conserved. Both the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of the central region are well conserved. The amino acid sequence of the C-terminal region is not conserved, because of frameshift mutations, however, the total number of amino acids is conserved. The nucleotide sequence of the 3'-noncoding region is divergent, but it could form a tRNA-like structure similar to those reported for other viruses. Detailed investigation suggests that the Y and Q strains are evolutionarily distant.

Complete nucleotide sequence of two new satellite RNAs associated with cucumber mosaic virus

Complete nucleotide sequences of two new satellite RNAs (satRNA) of cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), E-satRNA and OY2-satRNA, have been determined and compared with known satellite RNA sequences. E-satRNA contained 339 nucleotide residues and OY2-satRNA had 386 nucleotide residues. Comparison of the sequences among satRNAs including these new satRNAs revealed extensive homologous regions in the 5'-terminus and the 3'-half. The former region contains about 95 nucleotide residues (80-100% homology) and the latter has about 175 nucleotide residues (81-99% homology), but there was less homology in the middle of the RNA. A possible secondary structure for E-satRNA, OY2-satRNA, and Y-satRNA [S. Hidaka et al. (1984) FEBS Lett. 174, 38-42] was constructed and compared with that of a satellite RNA from CMV-Q (Q-satRNA) [K. H. J. Gordon and R. H. Symons (1983), Nucl. Acids Res. 11, 947-960]. Two similar hairpin-loop structures in the 5'-terminal region were common features of the RNAs; one of them was found in E-satRNA, the other in OY2-satRNA, and both in Y-satRNA and Q-satRNA. Analyses of in vitro messenger properties of the satRNAs suggested that the first open reading frame of E-sat and Y-satRNAs was a possible coding region for protein synthesis.

Cucumber mosaic virus-associated RNA 5. XI. Comparison of 14 CARNA 5 variants relates ability to induce tomato necrosis to a conserved nucleotide sequence

Seven CARNA 5 (Cucumber mosaic virus-Associated RNA 5) variants were obtained from an Indonesian cucumber mosaic virus isolate (designated CMV-In) by serial passage of this virus in squash, Chenopodium quinoa, tobacco, and tomato. Bioassays of the isolated CARNA 5 variants for their capability to induce lethal necrosis in tomato allowed categorization of the CARNA 5 variants as either necrogenic or nonnecrogenic. Comparison of the CARNA 5 sequences with sequences previously published shows that in general CMV satellites display a high degree of nucleotide sequence conservation. Except for two sharply defined domains of variability, the sequences of the necrogenic CARNA 5s are essentially conserved, whereas those of the nonnecrogenic CARNA 5s possess at least nine additional hypervariable domains. In eight positions of the CARNA 5 sequences all necrogenic variants differ uniquely from those that are nonnecrogenic. All CMV satellites compared in this work possess open reading frames (ORFs), with equivalent initiation codons, capable of encoding polypeptides of significant lengths. Two equivalent or identical ORFs were found only in the necrogenic CARNA 5s, whereas a variable-length ORF was found in the sequences of all the CARNA 5 variants compared. These findings constitute a basis for experiments aimed at determining the biological significance, if any, of these ORFs.

The cDNA of cucumber mosaic virus-associated satellite RNA has in vivo biological properties

Two isolates of cucumber mosaic virus (CMV)-associated satellite RNA, differing in their biological properties, have been reverse transcribed. One was able to induce the tomato necrotic syndrome whereas the other one attenuated fernleaf symptoms on tomato plants after co-inoculation with the helper virus. cDNAs representing partial or full-length copies have been cloned in the plasmid pAT 153 and sequenced. The two RNAs showed a very limited number of variations (2 to 5 substitutions depending on the clones and a one base deletion). Full-length cDNA copies possessed the same biological properties that characterized the parent satellite RNA. Efficiency of the cDNA depended upon its form in the inoculum (circular or linear plasmid or excised cDNA) and upon the form of the helper virus (viral RNAs or virions) with which it seemed to compete for installation and/or expression.

In vitro translation of cucumoviral satellites. II. CARNA 5 from cucumber mosaic virus strain S and SP6 transcripts of cloned (S)CARNA 5 cDNA produce electrophoretically comigrating protein products

This report shows that (S)CARNA 5, the satellite of cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) strain S, directs the synthesis of two small proteins in a wheat germ cell-free translation system. The two proteins are produced by the translation of both (S)CARNA 5 purified from CMV virions and the (+) strand purified from double-stranded (S)CARNA 5. In addition, two protein products that comigrate electrophoretically with those above are produced when transcripts synthesized in vitro from full-length (S)CARNA 5 cDNA cloned in the plasmid pSP65 are substituted for (S)CARNA 5 in the translation system. The two proteins therefore must derive from a single (S)CARNA 5 sequence.