In vitro synthesis of double-stranded RNA by carnation cryptic virus-associated RNA-dependent RNA polymerase

In planta protein interactions of three alphacryptoviruses and three betacryptoviruses from White Clover, Red Clover and Dill by bimolecular fluorescence complementation analysis

Plant-infecting viruses of the genera Alpha- and Betacryptovirus within the family Partitiviridae cause no visible effects on their hosts and are only transmitted by cell division and through gametes. The bipartite dsRNA genome is encoding a RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and a coat protein (CP). Aside from sequence and structural analysis, the investigation of protein interactions is another step towards virus characterization. Therefore, ORFs of two type members White Clover Cryptic Virus 1 and 2 (WCCV-1 and WCCV-2), as well as the related viruses from Red Clover and Dill were introduced into a bimolecular fluorescence complementation assay. We showed CP-CP dimerization for all tested viruses with localization for alphacryptoviruses at the nuclear membrane and for betacryptoviruses close to cell walls within the cytoplasm. For CPs of WCCV-1 and WCCV-2, deletion mutants were created to determine internal interaction sites. Moreover, RdRp self-interaction was found for all viruses, whereas CP-RdRp interactions were only detectable for the alphacryptoviruses. An intra-genus test of CPs was successful in various virus combinations, whereas an inter-genus interaction of WCCV-1CP and WCCV-2CP was absent. This is the first report of in vivo protein interactions of members in the family Partitiviridae, indicating distinct features of the alpha- and betacryptoviruses.

The double-stranded RNA associated with the '447' cytoplasmic male sterility in Vicia faba is packaged together with its replicase in cytoplasmic membranous vesicles

The 447 male sterility trait in Vicia faba is strictly correlated with the presence of well-defined membranous vesicles or 'cytoplasmic spherical bodies' not found in fertile isogenic maintainer plants, and by the occurrence of a discrete high molecular weight double-stranded RNA. We have purified these cytoplasmic membranous vesicles and find that they contain the dsRNA together with an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase whose activity depends upon the presence of Mg2+, requires the four-nucleoside triphosphates and is unaffected by inhibitors of cellular transcriptases, e.g. alpha-amanitin and Actinomycin D. The dsRNA can be labelled in vitro by incubating the cytoplasmic vesicles with radioactive NTPs, and the RNA synthesized in vitro is also in a double-stranded form as judged by its resistance to RNase digestion at high salt and its behaviour upon CF-11 chromatography. Treatment of the vesicles with a non-ionic detergent releases the dsRNA in the form of a complex with the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. The enzyme can still carry out the specific synthesis of dsRNA in these solubilized complexes. The cytoplasmic vesicles therefore isolate this vertically transmitted, self-replicating dsRNA from the cellular milieu: the possible mode of action and relevance of this novel genetic element to the 447 cytoplasmic male sterility trait are discussed.