Comparative oligonucleotide fingerprints of three plant viroids

Viroids, Satellite RNAs and Prions: Folding of Nucleic Acids and Misfolding of Proteins

Theodor ("Ted") Otto Diener (* 28 February 1921 in Zürich, Switzerland; † 28 March 2023 in Beltsville, MD, USA) pioneered research on viroids while working at the Plant Virology Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, in Beltsville. He coined the name viroid and defined viroids' important features like the infectivity of naked single-stranded RNA without protein-coding capacity. During scientific meetings in the 1970s and 1980s, viroids were often discussed at conferences together with other "subviral pathogens". This term includes what are now called satellite RNAs and prions. Satellite RNAs depend on a helper virus and have linear or, in the case of virusoids, circular RNA genomes. Prions, proteinaceous infectious particles, are the agents of scrapie, kuru and some other diseases. Many satellite RNAs, like viroids, are non-coding and exert their function by thermodynamically or kinetically controlled folding, while prions are solely host-encoded proteins that cause disease by misfolding, aggregation and transmission of their conformations into infectious prion isoforms. In this memorial, we will recall the work of Ted Diener on subviral pathogens.

Potato spindle tuber and citrus exocortis viroids undergo no major sequence changes during replication in two different hosts

Potato spindle tuber viroid and citrus exocortis viroid, each purified from tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) and from Gynura aurantiaca, were iodinated in vitro with (125)I, digested with ribonuclease T1, and subjected to two-dimensional RNA fingerprinting analysis. With the exception of minor variations, each viroid retained its distinctive fingerprint pattern irrespective of the host species from which it was isolated. We conclude that the nucleotide sequences of these viroids are principally determined by the infecting viroid and not by the host.

Satellite RNAs of cucumber mosaic virus: characterization of two new satellites

Two new satellite RNAs of cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) which did not induce necrosis on tomato in the presence of CMV, B-sat RNA, and WL-sat RNA, were shown to be related by sequence to two well-characterized satellite RNAs of CMV: G-sat RNA (non-necrotic on tomato) and n-CARNA 5 (necrotic on tomato). Using the techniques of molecular hybridization analysis, RNA fingerprinting and partial RNA sequencing, B-sat RNA and WL-sat RNA were shown to be more closely related to each other (probably differing by only a small number of nucleotides) than to the other two satellite RNAs. Furthermore, B-sat RNA and WL-sat RNA showed greater sequence homology with G-sat RNA than with n-CARNA 5. WL-sat RNA, which induces a "white-leaf" disease on tomato in the presence of CMV [Gonsalves et al. (1982)., exhibited heterogeneity of sequence in at least one nucleotide position.

Viroids and the nature of viroid diseases

In its methodology, the unexpected discovery of the viroid in 1971 resembles that of the virus by Beijerinck some 70 years earlier. In either case, a novel type of plant pathogen was recognized by its ability to penetrate through a medium with pores small enough to exclude even the smallest previously known pathogen: bacteria as compared with the tobacco mosaic agent; viruses as compared with the potato spindle tuber agent. Interestingly, one of the two methods used by Beijerinck, diffusion of the tobacco mosaic agent into agar gels, is conceptually similar to one method used to establish the size of the potato spindle tuber agent, namely polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Further work demonstrated that neither agent is an unusually small conventional pathogen (a microbe in the case of the tobacco mosaic agent; a virus in the case of the potato spindle tuber agent), but that either agent represents the prototype of a fundamentally distinct class of pathogen, the viruses and the viroids, respectively. With the viroids, this distinction became evident once their unique molecular structure, lack of mRNA activity, and autonomous replication had become elucidated. Functionally, viroids rely to a far greater extent than viruses on their host's biosynthetic systems: Whereas translation of viral genetic information is essential for virus replication, viroids are totally dependent on their hosts' transcriptional system and, in contrast to viruses, no viroid-coded proteins are involved. Because of the viroids' simplicity and extremely small size they approach more closely even than viruses Beijerinck's concept of a contagium vivum fluidum.

Nucleotide sequence and secondary structure of citrus exocortis and chrysanthemum stunt viroid

The complete nucleotide sequence of citrus exocortis viroid (CEV, propagated in Gymura) and chrysanthemum stunt viroid (CSV, propagated in Cineraria) has been established, using labelling in vitro and direct RNA sequencing methods and a new screening procedure for the rapid selection of suitable RNA fragments from limited digests. The covalently closed circular single-stranded viroid RNAs consist of 371 (CEV) and 354 (CSV) nucleotides, respectively. As previously shown for potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTV, 359 nucleotides), CEV and CSV also contain a long polypurine sequence. Maximal base-pairing of the established CEV and CSV sequences results in an extended rod-like secondary structure similar to that previously established for PSTV and as predicted from detailed physicochemical studies of all these viroids. Although the three viroid species sequenced to date differ in size and nucleotide sequence, there is 60--73% homology between them. As PSTV, CEV and CSV also contain conserved complementary sequences which are separated from each other in the native secondary structure. We postulate that the resulting 'secondary' hairpins, being formed and observed in vitro during the complex process of thermal denaturation of viroid RNA, must have a vital, although yet unknown, function in vivo. The possible origin and function of viroids are discussed on the basis of the characteristic structural features and of a considerable homology with U1a RNA found for a region highly conserved in the three viroids.

Avocado sunblotch viroid: primary sequence and proposed secondary structure

The sequence of the 247 nucleotide residues of the single strand circular RNA of avocado sunblotch viroid (ASBV) was determined using partial enzymic cleavage methods on overlapping viroid fragments obtained by partial ribonuclease digestion followed by 32p-labelling in vitro at their 5'-ends. ASBV is much smaller than potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTV; 359 residues) and chrysanthemum stunt viroid (CSV; 356 residues). A secondary structure model for ASBV is proposed and contains 67% of its residues base paired. In contrast to the extensive (69%) sequence homology of CSV with PSTV, only 18% of the ASBV sequence is homologous to PSTV and CSV. There are eight potential polypeptide translation products with chain lengths from 4 to 63 amino acid residues coded for by the plus (infectious) strand and four potential translation products (2 to 60 residues) coded for by the minus strand. An improved method is described for the synthesis of gamma-32p-ATP of high specific activity.

Specifically primed synthesis in vitro of full-length DNA complementary to potato-spindle-tuber viroid

Potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTV) RNA is transcribed in vitro by reverse transcriptase into complementary DNA in the presence of synthetic oligodeoxyribonucleotides as primers. In the case of priming with the pentadecadeoxyribonucleotide d(T-T-C-T-T-T-T-T-T-C-T-T-T-T-C) complementary to PSTV RNA from nucleotides 49 to 63, specificity of transcription initiation allows rapid sequencing of part of the viroid genome using chain-terminating dideoxyribonucleoside triphosphates. The DNA transcripts obtained represent distinct molecular species with the largest product being a full-length copy of the viroid RNA template. Molecular hybridization with 32P-labeled complementary DNA detects sequence homologies among different viroid species.

Chrysanthemum stunt viroid: primary sequence and secondary structure

The sequence of the 356 nucleotide residues of chrysanthemum stunt viroid (CSV) has been determined. Overlapping linear viroid fragments were obtained by partial ribonuclease digestion, radiolabelled in vitro at their 5'-ends, and sequenced using partial enzymic cleavage methods. Of the CSV sequence, 69% is contained in the published sequence of potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTV). Differences in the primary sequence of CSV and PSTV suggest that neither the positive nor putative negative strands of these two viroids code for functional polypeptide products. However, the two viroids can form similar secondary structures, implicating a role for viroid structure in replication.

DNA-dependent RNA polymerase II of plant origin transcribes viroid RNA into full-length copies

DNA-dependent RNA polymerase II purified from healthy plant tissue is capable of synthesizing linear (-)-viroid RNA copies of full length from (+)-viroid RNA templates in vitro. Together with the specific alpha-amanitin sensitivity of viroid replication observed in vivo, these findings suggest that viroids replicate by an entirely novel mechanism in which infecting viroid RNA molecules are copied by the host enzyme which is normally responsible for the synthesis of nuclear precursors to messenger RNA.

Detection of complementary RNA intermediates of viroid replication by Northern blot hybridization

Molecular hybridization by the Northern blot technique in combination with 125I-labeled PSTV (+) RNA and 32P-labeled PSTV cDNA as probes has been applied to detect viroid-specific sequences in healthy and viroid(PSTV)-infected tomato plants. Conditions are described which allow differentiation of (+) and (-) viroid sequences on the basis of the different thermostabilities of the corresponding hybrid molecules. By this experimental approach, it is documented that no viroid-specific DNA sequences can be detected and that viroid replication proceeds via complementary RNA intermediates. Out of the seven (-) RNA species found, six are apparently larger than the circular viroid (+) RNA and one is about the same size as the linear (+) RNA molecule.

A severe and a mild potato spindle tuber viroid isolate differ in three nucleotide exchanges only

Fingerprint analyses of two potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTV) isolates causing severe and mild symptoms, respectively, in tomato exhibited defined differences in the RNase T1 and RNase A fingerprints. The complete sequencing of the mild isolate and the comparison of its primary structure with the previously established one of the pathogenic type strain revealed that oligonucleotides CAAAAAAG, CUUUUUCUCUAUCUUACUUG, and AAAAAAGGAC in the 'severe' strain are replaced by CAAUAAG, CUUUUUCUCUAUCUUUCUUUG, AAU, and AAGGAC in the 'mild' strain. Thus, three nucleotide exchanges at different sites of the molecule may change a pathogenic viroid to a practically non-pathogenic isolate. The possible correlation between the secondary structure in a defined region of the PSTV molecule and its pathogenicity for tomato is discussed.

Viroids: structure and function

Viroids are nucleic acid species of relatively low molecular weight and unique structure that cause several important diseases of cultivated plants. Similar nucleic acid species may be responsible for certain diseases of animals and humans. Viroids are the smallest known agents of infectious disease. Unlike viral nucleic acids, viroids are not encapsidated. Despite their small size, viroids replicate autonomously in cells of susceptible plant species. Known viroids are single-stranded, covalently closed circular, as well as linear, RNA molecules with extensive regions of intramolecular complementarity; they exist in their native state as highly base-paired rods.

Fine structure melting of viroids as studied by kinetic methods

The conformational transitions of five viroid species were studied by melting analysis and by fast and slow temperature jump techniques. Experiments with the fast temperature jump technique had to be carried out in 10 mM Na-cacodylate, 0.1 M NaCl, 4 M urea, 1 mM EDTA, pH 6.8. In addition to the highly cooperative main transition (Tm between 46.5 and 49 degrees C for different viroid species [1]) all viroids show at higher temperatures an intermediate transition (Tm approximately equal to 57 degrees C) and a high temperature transition (Tm approximately equal to 68 degrees C). The maximum amplitudes of these transitions amount only to about 1% of that of the main transition. The main transition represents a net dissociation of 78 to 94 base pairs depending on the viroid species. The intermediate transition corresponds to the dissociation of two hairpins with 5-10 base pairs each, and 10-20 nucleotides in the loops. The high temperature transition corresponds to a hairpin of 9 G:C pairs and 1 A:U pair and more than 40 bases in the loop. It is shown that these stable hairpins are not part of the native structure but are newly formed during the main transition. Their formation is responsible for the extraordinary cooperativity observed in the main transition. Hairpins can be correlated to defined sequences of PSTV. Based on these studies, on the sequence of PSTV [2], and on a theoretical treatment [3] a detailed description of the whole mechanism of PSTV denaturation is given.

Recent human influenza A (H1N1) viruses are closely related genetically to strains isolated in 1950

Comparison of the oligonucleotide maps of the RNAs of current human influenza (H1N1) virus isolates shows these strains to be much more closely related to viruses isolated in 1950 than to strains which circulated before or after that period.

Nucleotide sequence and secondary structure of potato spindle tuber viroid

The viroid of the potato spindle tuber disease (PSTV) is a covalently closed ring of 359 ribonucleotides. As a result of intramolecular base pairing, a serial arrangement of double-helical sections and internal loops form a unique rod-like secondary structure. PSTV is the first pathogen of a eukaryotic organism for which the complete molecular structure has been established.

Common structural features of different viroids: serial arrangement of double helical sections and internal loops

The thermodynamic parameters of five different highly purified viroid "species" were determined by applying UV-absorption melting analysis and temperature jump methods. Their thermal denaturation proved to be a highly cooperative process with midpoint-temperatures (Tm) between 48.5 and 51 degrees C in 0.01 M sodium cacodylate, 1 mM EDTA, pH 6.8. The values of the apparent reaction enthalpies of the different viroid species range between 3,140 and 3,770 kJ/mol. Although the cooperativity is as high as found in homogeneous RNA double helices the Tm-value of viroid melting is more than 30 degrees C lower than in the homogeneous RNA. In order to explain this deviation, melting curves were simulated for different models of the secondary structure of viroids using literature values of the thermodynamic parameters of nucleic acids. Our calculations show that the following refinement of our earlier model is in complete accordance with the experimental data: In their native conformation viroids exist as an extended rodlike structure characterized by a series of double helical sections and internal loops. In the different viroid species 250-300 nucleotides out of total 350 nucleotides are needed to interprete the thermodynamic behaviour.

Studies on the primary and secondary structure of potato spindle tuber viroid: products of digestion with ribonuclease A and ribonuclease T1, and modification with bisulfite

Potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTV), a small infectios RNA, has been completely digested with RNase T1 and RNase A, and the resulting oligonucleotides have been sequenced using 5'-terminal 32p-labelling with gamma-32p ATP and T4 polynucleotide kinase, fingerprinting and controlled nuclease P1 digestion. Modified nucleotides have not been detected in 5'-positions of these oligonucleotides. PSTV consists of about 359 nucleotides and contains a remarkable stretch of 18 purines, mainly adenosines; there is no AUG initiation triplet present. The established oligonucleotide sequences preclude a perfect intramolecular base complementarity within the covalently closed viroid circle. Therefore, the rigid, rod-like native secondary structure of PSTV, as seen in the electron microscope, must be based on a defective rather than on a homogeneous RNA helix. The detailed analysis of the bisulfite-catalized modification of cytidine to uridine in PSTV revealed a higher reactivity for the majority of the cytidines than would be expected for a perfect helix. Since only cytidines in single-stranded regions are knonw to be fully reactive, this finding provides additional evidence for defects in the helical secondary structure of PSTV.

Isolation from rat liver and sequence of a RNA fragment containing 32 nucleotides from position 5 to 36 from the 3' end of ribosomal 18S RNA

Crude tRNA isolated from rat liver by the method of Rogg et al. (Biochem. Biophys. Acta 195, 13-15 1969) contains N6-dimethyladenosine (m6-2A) and was therefore fractionated in order to identify the m6-2A-containing RNAs. A unique species of RNA was purified which contained all the m62A present in the crude tRNA. Sequence analysis by postlabeling with gamma-32p-ATP and polynucleotide kinase revealed that this RNA represents the 32 nucleotides AAGGUUUC(C)U GUAGGUGm62Am62ACCUGCGGAAGGAUC from position 5 to 36 of the 3' terminus of ribosomal 18S RNA. The 36 nucleotide long sequence from the 3' end of rat liver 18S rRNA exhibits extensive homology with the corresponding sequence of E. coli 16S rRNA and with the 21 nucleotide long 3' terminal sequence so far known from Saccharomyces carlsbergensis 17S rRNA. A heterogeneity in this sequence provides the first evidence on the molecular level for the existence of (at least) two sets of redundant ribosomal 18S RNA genes in the rat.

Oligonucleotide mapping of non-radioactive virus and messenger RNAs

A modification of the known method for obtaining radioactive fingerprints from non-radioactive nucleic acids by labelling a digest with 5'-hydroxyl polynucleotide kinase and [gamma-32P]-ATP has been applied to RNase T1 digests from various high molecular weight virus RNAs and to ovalbumin mRNA. Fractionation of the resultant [32P]-labelled T1 RNase digests by two-dimensional polyacrylamide electrophoresis demonstrates that in the case of virus RNAs, the fingerprints thus obtained are very similar to those derived from uniformly labelled RNAs. The value of this technique is that it requires only 1-5 microgram of purified virus RNA and at least three orders of magnitude less radioactivity than is routinely employed in preparing uniformly labelled RNA.