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Steger G, Riesner D, Prusiner SB. Viroids, Satellite RNAs and Prions: Folding of Nucleic Acids and Misfolding of Proteins. Viruses 2024; 16:360. [PMID: 38543726 PMCID: PMC10975798 DOI: 10.3390/v16030360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2024] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerhard Steger
- Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40204 Düsseldorf, Germany;
| | - Detlev Riesner
- Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40204 Düsseldorf, Germany;
| | - Stanley B. Prusiner
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA;
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
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Conserved Motifs and Domains in Members of Pospiviroidae. Cells 2022; 11:cells11020230. [PMID: 35053346 PMCID: PMC8774013 DOI: 10.3390/cells11020230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In 1985, Keese and Symons proposed a hypothesis on the sequence and secondary structure of viroids from the family Pospiviroidae: their secondary structure can be subdivided into five structural and functional domains and “viroids have evolved by rearrangement of domains between different viroids infecting the same cell and subsequent mutations within each domain”; this article is one of the most cited in the field of viroids. Employing the pairwise alignment method used by Keese and Symons and in addition to more recent methods, we tried to reproduce the original results and extent them to further members of Pospiviroidae which were unknown in 1985. Indeed, individual members of Pospiviroidae consist of a patchwork of sequence fragments from the family but the lengths of fragments do not point to consistent points of rearrangement, which is in conflict with the original hypothesis of fixed domain borders.
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Steger G. Predicting the Structure of a Viroid : Structure, Structure Distribution, Consensus Structure, and Structure Drawing. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2316:331-371. [PMID: 34845705 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1464-8_26] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Viroids are small non-coding RNAs that require a special sequence and structure to be replicated and transported by the host machinery. Many of these features can be predicted and later experimentally verified. Here, we will present workflows to predict viroid structures and draw the predicted structures in a pleasing and descriptive way using recently developed software.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerhard Steger
- Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.
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Steger G, Riesner D. Viroid research and its significance for RNA technology and basic biochemistry. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 46:10563-10576. [PMID: 30304486 PMCID: PMC6237808 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gky903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2018] [Accepted: 09/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Viroids were described 47 years ago as the smallest RNA molecules capable of infecting plants and autonomously self-replicating without an encoded protein. Work on viroids initiated the development of a number of innovative methods. Novel chromatographic and gelelectrophoretic methods were developed for the purification and characterization of viroids; these methods were later used in molecular biology, gene technology and in prion research. Theoretical and experimental studies of RNA folding demonstrated the general biological importance of metastable structures, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of viroid RNA showed the partially covalent nature of hydrogen bonds in biological macromolecules. RNA biochemistry and molecular biology profited from viroid research, such as in the detection of RNA as template of DNA-dependent polymerases and in mechanisms of gene silencing. Viroids, the first circular RNA detected in nature, are important for studies on the much wider spectrum of circular RNAs and other non-coding RNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerhard Steger
- Department of Biology, Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Universitätsstr. 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Detlev Riesner
- Department of Biology, Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Universitätsstr. 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
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Moreno M, Vázquez L, López-Carrasco A, Martín-Gago J, Flores R, Briones C. Direct visualization of the native structure of viroid RNAs at single-molecule resolution by atomic force microscopy. RNA Biol 2019; 16:295-308. [PMID: 30734641 PMCID: PMC6380281 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2019.1572436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2018] [Revised: 12/11/2018] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Viroids are small infectious, non-protein-coding circular RNAs that replicate independently and, in some cases, incite diseases in plants. They are classified into two families: Pospiviroidae, composed of species that have a central conserved region (CCR) and replicate in the cell nucleus, and Avsunviroidae, containing species that lack a CCR and whose multimeric replicative intermediates of either polarity generated in plastids self-cleave through hammerhead ribozymes. The compact, rod-like or branched, secondary structures of viroid RNAs have been predicted by RNA folding algorithms and further examined using different in vitro and in vivo experimental techniques. However, direct data about their native tertiary structure remain scarce. Here we have applied atomic force microscopy (AFM) to image at single-molecule resolution different variant RNAs of three representative viroids: potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd, family Pospiviroidae), peach latent mosaic viroid and eggplant latent viroid (PLMVd and ELVd, family Avsunviroidae). Our results provide a direct visualization of their native, three-dimensional conformations at 0 and 4 mM Mg2+ and highlight the role that some elements of tertiary structure play in their stabilization. The AFM images show that addition of 4 mM Mg2+ to the folding buffer results in a size contraction in PSTVd and ELVd, as well as in PLMVd when the kissing-loop interaction that stabilizes its 3D structure is preserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Moreno
- Department of Molecular Evolution, Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA), Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain
| | - L. Vázquez
- Departamento de Superficies y Recubrimientos, Materials Science Factory, Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid (CSIC), Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain
| | - A. López-Carrasco
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (CSIC-UPV), Valencia, Spain
| | - J.A. Martín-Gago
- Departamento de Superficies y Recubrimientos, Materials Science Factory, Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid (CSIC), Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain
| | - R. Flores
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (CSIC-UPV), Valencia, Spain
| | - C. Briones
- Department of Molecular Evolution, Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA), Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de enfermedades hepáticas y digestivas (CIBERehd), Spain
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Processing of Potato Spindle Tuber Viroid RNAs in Yeast, a Nonconventional Host. J Virol 2017; 91:JVI.01078-17. [PMID: 28978701 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01078-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2017] [Accepted: 09/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) is a circular, single-stranded, noncoding RNA plant pathogen that is a useful model for studying the processing of noncoding RNA in eukaryotes. Infective PSTVd circles are replicated via an asymmetric rolling circle mechanism to form linear multimeric RNAs. An endonuclease cleaves these into monomers, and a ligase seals these into mature circles. All eukaryotes may have such enzymes for processing noncoding RNA. As a test, we investigated the processing of three PSTVd RNA constructs in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae Of these, only one form, a construct that adopts a previously described tetraloop-containing conformation (TL), produces circles. TL has 16 nucleotides of the 3' end duplicated at the 5' end and a 3' end produced by self-cleavage of a delta ribozyme. The other two constructs, an exact monomer flanked by ribozymes and a trihelix-forming RNA with requisite 5' and 3' duplications, do not produce circles. The TL circles contain nonnative nucleotides resulting from the 3' end created by the ribozyme and the 5' end created from an endolytic cleavage by yeast at a site distinct from where potato enzymes cut these RNAs. RNAs from all three transcripts are cleaved in places not on path for circle formation, likely representing RNA decay. We propose that these constructs fold into distinct RNA structures that interact differently with host cell RNA metabolism enzymes, resulting in various susceptibilities to degradation versus processing. We conclude that PSTVd RNA is opportunistic and may use different processing pathways in different hosts.IMPORTANCE In higher eukaryotes, the majority of transcribed RNAs do not encode proteins. These noncoding RNAs are responsible for mRNA regulation, control of the expression of regulatory microRNAs, sensing of changes in the environment by use of riboswitches (RNAs that change shape in response to environmental signals), catalysis, and more roles that are still being uncovered. Some of these functions may be remnants from the RNA world and, as such, would be part of the evolutionary past of all forms of modern life. Viroids are noncoding RNAs that can cause disease in plants. Since they encode no proteins, they depend on their own RNA and on host proteins for replication and pathogenicity. It is likely that viroids hijack critical host RNA pathways for processing the host's own noncoding RNA. These pathways are still unknown. Elucidating these pathways should reveal new biological functions of noncoding RNA.
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Abstract
Mature viroids consist of a noncoding, covalently closed circular RNA that is able to autonomously infect respective host plants. Thus, they must utilize proteins of the host for most biological functions such as replication, processing, transport, and pathogenesis. Therefore, viroids can be regarded as minimal parasites of the host machinery. They have to present to the host machinery the appropriate signals based on either their sequence or their structure. Here, we summarize such sequence and structural features critical for the biological functions of viroids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerhard Steger
- Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.
| | - Jean-Pierre Perreault
- Département de biochimie, Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Pavillon de recherche appliqueé sur le cancer, Université de Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada.
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Avina-Padilla K, Martinez de la Vega O, Rivera-Bustamante R, Martinez-Soriano JP, Owens RA, Hammond RW, Vielle-Calzada JP. In silico prediction and validation of potential gene targets for pospiviroid-derived small RNAs during tomato infection. Gene 2015; 564:197-205. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2015.03.076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2015] [Revised: 03/13/2015] [Accepted: 03/24/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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Discovery of replicating circular RNAs by RNA-seq and computational algorithms. PLoS Pathog 2014; 10:e1004553. [PMID: 25503469 PMCID: PMC4263765 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1004553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2014] [Accepted: 11/04/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Replicating circular RNAs are independent plant pathogens known as viroids, or act to modulate the pathogenesis of plant and animal viruses as their satellite RNAs. The rate of discovery of these subviral pathogens was low over the past 40 years because the classical approaches are technical demanding and time-consuming. We previously described an approach for homology-independent discovery of replicating circular RNAs by analysing the total small RNA populations from samples of diseased tissues with a computational program known as progressive filtering of overlapping small RNAs (PFOR). However, PFOR written in PERL language is extremely slow and is unable to discover those subviral pathogens that do not trigger in vivo accumulation of extensively overlapping small RNAs. Moreover, PFOR is yet to identify a new viroid capable of initiating independent infection. Here we report the development of PFOR2 that adopted parallel programming in the C++ language and was 3 to 8 times faster than PFOR. A new computational program was further developed and incorporated into PFOR2 to allow the identification of circular RNAs by deep sequencing of long RNAs instead of small RNAs. PFOR2 analysis of the small RNA libraries from grapevine and apple plants led to the discovery of Grapevine latent viroid (GLVd) and Apple hammerhead viroid-like RNA (AHVd-like RNA), respectively. GLVd was proposed as a new species in the genus Apscaviroid, because it contained the typical structural elements found in this group of viroids and initiated independent infection in grapevine seedlings. AHVd-like RNA encoded a biologically active hammerhead ribozyme in both polarities, and was not specifically associated with any of the viruses found in apple plants. We propose that these computational algorithms have the potential to discover novel circular RNAs in plants, invertebrates and vertebrates regardless of whether they replicate and/or induce the in vivo accumulation of small RNAs.
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Verhoeven JTJ, Meekes ETM, Roenhorst JW, Flores R, Serra P. Dahlia latent viroid: a recombinant new species of the family Pospiviroidae posing intriguing questions about its origin and classification. J Gen Virol 2012; 94:711-719. [PMID: 23255620 DOI: 10.1099/vir.0.048751-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
A viroid-like RNA has been detected in two asymptomatic dahlia accessions by return and double PAGE. It appeared smaller than Chrysanthemum stunt viroid and Potato spindle tuber viroid, the two members of the genus Pospiviroid, family Pospiviroidae, reported in this ornamental previously. RT-PCR with primers designed for amplifying all pospiviroids produced no amplicons, but RT-PCR with random primers revealed a 342 nt RNA. The sequence of this RNA was confirmed with specific primers, which additionally revealed its presence in many dahlia cultivars. The RNA was named Dahlia latent viroid (DLVd) because it replicates autonomously, but symptomlessly, in dahlia and shares maximum sequence identity with other viroids of less than 56 %. Furthermore, DLVd displays characteristic features of the family Pospiviroidae: a predicted rod-like secondary structure of minimum free energy with a central conserved region (CCR), and the ability to form the metastable structures hairpins I and II. Its CCR is identical to that of Hop stunt viroid (HSVd, genus Hostuviroid). However, DLVd: (i) has the terminal conserved region present in members of the genus Pospiviroid, but absent in HSVd, and (ii) lacks the terminal conserved hairpin present in HSVd. Phylogenetic reconstructions indicate that HSVd and Pepper chat fruit viroid (genus Pospiviroid) are the closest relatives of DLVd, but DLVd differs from these viroids in its host range, restricted to dahlia so far. Therefore, while DLVd fulfils the criteria to be a novel species of the family Pospiviroidae, its recombinant origin makes assignment to the genera Pospiviroid or Hostuviroid problematic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacobus Th J Verhoeven
- National Plant Protection Organization, National Reference Centre, P.O. Box 9102, 6700 HC Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Ellis T M Meekes
- Naktuinbouw, P.O. Box 40, 2370 AA Roelofarendsveen, The Netherlands
| | - Johanna W Roenhorst
- National Plant Protection Organization, National Reference Centre, P.O. Box 9102, 6700 HC Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Ricardo Flores
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (UPV-CSIC), Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Valencia 46022, Spain
| | - Pedro Serra
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (UPV-CSIC), Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Valencia 46022, Spain
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Flores R, Serra P, Minoia S, Di Serio F, Navarro B. Viroids: from genotype to phenotype just relying on RNA sequence and structural motifs. Front Microbiol 2012; 3:217. [PMID: 22719735 PMCID: PMC3376415 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2012.00217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2012] [Accepted: 05/28/2012] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
As a consequence of two unique physical properties, small size and circularity, viroid RNAs do not code for proteins and thus depend on RNA sequence/structural motifs for interacting with host proteins that mediate their invasion, replication, spread, and circumvention of defensive barriers. Viroid genomes fold up on themselves adopting collapsed secondary structures wherein stretches of nucleotides stabilized by Watson–Crick pairs are flanked by apparently unstructured loops. However, compelling data show that they are instead stabilized by alternative non-canonical pairs and that specific loops in the rod-like secondary structure, characteristic of Potato spindle tuber viroid and most other members of the family Pospiviroidae, are critical for replication and systemic trafficking. In contrast, rather than folding into a rod-like secondary structure, most members of the family Avsunviroidae adopt multibranched conformations occasionally stabilized by kissing-loop interactions critical for viroid viability in vivo. Besides these most stable secondary structures, viroid RNAs alternatively adopt during replication transient metastable conformations containing elements of local higher-order structure, prominent among which are the hammerhead ribozymes catalyzing a key replicative step in the family Avsunviroidae, and certain conserved hairpins that also mediate replication steps in the family Pospiviroidae. Therefore, different RNA structures – either global or local – determine different functions, thus highlighting the need for in-depth structural studies on viroid RNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Flores
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (UPV-CSIC) Valencia, Spain
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Ding B. Viroids: self-replicating, mobile, and fast-evolving noncoding regulatory RNAs. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-RNA 2012; 1:362-75. [PMID: 21956936 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Viroids are small, circular, and noncoding RNAs that infect plants. They replicate in the nucleus or chloroplast and then traffic from cell to cell and from organ to organ to establish systemic infection. Viroids achieve nearly all of the biological functions by directly interacting with host cellular factors. Viroid replication, together with replication of human hepatitis delta virus, demonstrates the biological novelty and significance of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activities of DNA-dependent RNA polymerases. Viroid systemic infection uncovers a new biological principle--the role of three-dimensional RNA structural motifs mediating RNA trafficking between specific cells. Viroid diseases are virtually the consequences of host gene regulation by noncoding RNAs. A viroid RNA has the highest in vivo mutation rate among all known nucleic acid replicons. The host range of many viroids is expanding, essentially as a result of continuing and fast evolution of noncoding sequences/structures to gain new biological functions. Here, I discuss recent progress in these areas, emphasizing the broad significance of viroid research to the discovery of fundamental biological principles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biao Ding
- Department of Plant Cellular and Molecular Biology and Plant Biotechnology Center, The Center for RNA Biology, and Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology Program, The Ohio State University, 207 Rightmire Hall, 1060 Carmack Road, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
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Hammond RW, Owens RA. Mutational analysis of potato spindle tuber viroid reveals complex relationships between structure and infectivity. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2010; 84:3967-71. [PMID: 16593846 PMCID: PMC305002 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.84.12.3967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Viroids are single-stranded, covalently closed circular RNA pathogens that can be isolated from certain higher plants afflicted with specific diseases. Their small size (246-375 nucleotides; M(r) 0.8-1.3 x 10(5)) and ability to replicate autonomously make viroids a unique model system in which to study the relationships between the structure of an RNA and its biological function. The demonstrated infectivity of certain cloned viroid cDNAs allows the use of site-specific mutagenesis techniques to probe structure-function relationships suggested by comparative sequence analysis. Several site-specific mutations that disrupt base pairing in either the native structure or secondary hairpin I destroyed the ability of potato spindle tuber viroid cDNA to initiate infection. Alterations in the terminal loops of the native structure also abolished cDNA infectivity. One pseudorevertant, a mutant cDNA containing compensating changes that restore base pairing in the native structure, was marginally infectious; a second pseudorevertant in which base pairing was restored within the stem of secondary hairpin I was not infectious. The behavior of these mutants dramatically demonstrates the effect of remarkably small structural changes on viroid infectivity and emphasizes the importance of the conserved rod-like native structure for viroid function.
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Affiliation(s)
- R W Hammond
- Microbiology and Plant Pathology Laboratory, Plant Protection Institute, U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center-West, Beltsville, MD 20705
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Abstract
Viroids are single-stranded, circular, and noncoding RNAs that infect plants. They replicate in the nucleus or chloroplast and then traffic cell-to-cell through plasmodesmata and long distance through the phloem to establish systemic infection. They also cause diseases in certain hosts. All functions are mediated directly by the viroid RNA genome or genome-derived RNAs. I summarize recent advances in the understanding of viroid structures and cellular factors enabling these functions, emphasizing conceptual developments, major knowledge gaps, and future directions. Newly emerging experimental systems and research tools are discussed that are expected to enable significant progress in a number of key areas. I highlight examples of groundbreaking contributions of viroid research to the development of new biological principles and offer perspectives on using viroid models to continue advancing some frontiers of life science.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biao Ding
- Department of Plant Cellular and Molecular Biology and Plant Biotechnology Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA.
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Abraitiene A, Zhao Y, Hammond R. Nuclear targeting by fragmentation of the potato spindle tuber viroid genome. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2008; 368:470-5. [PMID: 18211806 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2008.01.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2008] [Accepted: 01/07/2008] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Transient expression of engineered reporter RNAs encoding an intron-containing green fluorescent protein (GFP) from a Potato virus X-based expression vector previously demonstrated the nuclear targeting capability of the 359 nucleotide Potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) RNA genome. To further delimit the putative nuclear-targeting signal, PSTVd subgenomic fragments were embedded within the intron, and recombinant reporter RNAs were inoculated onto Nicotiana benthamiana plants. Appearance of green fluorescence in leaf tissue inoculated with PSTVd-fragment-containing constructs indicated shuttling of the RNA into the nucleus by fragments as short as 80 nucleotides in length. Plant-to-plant variation in the timing of intron removal and subsequent GFP fluorescence was observed; however, earliest and most abundant GFP expression was obtained with constructs containing the conserved hairpin I palindrome structure and embedded upper central conserved region. Our results suggest that this conserved sequence and/or the stem-loop structure it forms is sufficient for import of PSTVd into the nucleus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asta Abraitiene
- Eukaryote Genetic Engineering Laboratory, Institute of Biotechnology, Vilnius, Lithuania
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Ding B, Itaya A. Viroid: a useful model for studying the basic principles of infection and RNA biology. MOLECULAR PLANT-MICROBE INTERACTIONS : MPMI 2007; 20:7-20. [PMID: 17249418 DOI: 10.1094/mpmi-20-0007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Viroids are small, circular, noncoding RNAs that currently are known to infect only plants. They also are the smallest self-replicating genetic units known. Without encoding proteins and requirement for helper viruses, these small RNAs contain all the information necessary to mediate intracellular trafficking and localization, replication, systemic trafficking, and pathogenicity. All or most of these functions likely result from direct interactions between distinct viroid RNA structural motifs and their cognate cellular factors. In this review, we discuss current knowledge of these RNA motifs and cellular factors. An emerging theme is that the structural simplicity, functional versatility, and experimental tractability of viroid RNAs make viroid-host interactions an excellent model to investigate the basic principles of infection and further the general mechanisms of RNA-templated replication, intracellular and intercellular RNA trafficking, and RNA-based regulation of gene expression. We anticipate that significant advances in understanding viroid-host interactions will be achieved through multifaceted secondary and tertiary RNA structural analyses in conjunction with genetic, biochemical, cellular, and molecular tools to characterize the RNA motifs and cellular factors associated with the processes leading to systemic infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biao Ding
- Department of Plant Cellular and Molecular Biology, Plant Biotechnology Center, Ohio State University, 207 Rightmire Hall, 1060 Carmack Road, Columbus 43210, USA.
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Zhong X, Leontis N, Qian S, Itaya A, Qi Y, Boris-Lawrie K, Ding B. Tertiary structural and functional analyses of a viroid RNA motif by isostericity matrix and mutagenesis reveal its essential role in replication. J Virol 2006; 80:8566-81. [PMID: 16912306 PMCID: PMC1563885 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00837-06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2006] [Accepted: 06/19/2006] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA-templated RNA replication is essential for viral or viroid infection, as well as for regulation of cellular gene expression. Specific RNA motifs likely regulate various aspects of this replication. Viroids of the Pospiviroidae family, as represented by the Potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd), replicate in the nucleus by utilizing DNA-dependent RNA polymerase II. We investigated the role of the loop E (sarcin/ricin) motif of the PSTVd genomic RNA in replication. A tertiary-structural model of this motif, inferred by comparative sequence analysis and comparison with nuclear magnetic resonance and X-ray crystal structures of loop E motifs in other RNAs, is presented in which core non-Watson-Crick base pairs are precisely specified. Isostericity matrix analysis of these base pairs showed that the model accounts for the reported natural sequence variations and viable experimental mutations in loop E motifs of PSTVd and other viroids. Furthermore, isostericity matrix analysis allowed us to design disruptive, as well as compensatory, mutations of PSTVd loop E. Functional analyses of such mutants by in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that loop E structural integrity is crucial for replication, specifically during transcription. Our results suggest that the PSTVd loop E motif exists and functions in vivo and provide loss-of-function genetic evidence for the essential role of a viroid RNA three-dimensional motif in rolling-circle replication. The use of isostericity matrix analysis of non-Watson-Crick base pairing to rationalize mutagenesis of tertiary motifs and systematic in vitro and in vivo functional assays of mutants offers a novel, comprehensive approach to elucidate the tertiary-structure-function relationships for RNA motifs of general biological significance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuehua Zhong
- Department of Plant Cellular and Molecular Biology, Ohio State University, Columbus, 43210, USA
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Dingley AJ, Steger G, Esters B, Riesner D, Grzesiek S. Structural characterization of the 69 nucleotide potato spindle tuber viroid left-terminal domain by NMR and thermodynamic analysis. J Mol Biol 2004; 334:751-67. [PMID: 14636600 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2003.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The 69 nucleotide left-terminal domain (T(L)) of the potato spindle tuber RNA viroid (PSTVd) constitutes one of its five structural elements. Due to a twofold complementary sequence repeat, two possible conformations are proposed for the T(L) secondary structure; an elongated-rod and a bifurcated form. In the present study, two T(L) mutants were designed that remove the symmetry of the sequence repeats and ensure that either the bifurcated or the elongated-rod conformation is thermodynamically favored. Imino 1H and 15N resonances were assigned for both mutants and the native T(L) domain based on 1H-1H NOESY and heteronuclear 1H-15N HSQC high-resolution NMR spectra. The NMR secondary structure analysis of all constructs establishes unambiguously the elongated-rod form as the secondary structure of the native T(L) domain. Temperature-gradient gel electrophoresis and UV melting experiments corroborate these results. A combined secondary structure and sequence analysis of T(L) domains of other Pospiviroidae family members indicates that the elongated-rod form is thermodynamically favored for the vast majority of these viroids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J Dingley
- Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
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19
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Owens RA, Sano T, Feldstein PA, Hu Y, Steger G. Identification of a novel structural interaction in Columnea latent viroid. Virology 2003; 313:604-14. [PMID: 12954225 DOI: 10.1016/s0042-6822(03)00352-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Pairwise sequence comparisons suggest that Columnea latent viroid (CLVd) may have originated from a recombination event involving Potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) and Hop stunt viroid (HSVd). To examine the role of specific structural features in determining the host range of CLVd, we constructed a series of interspecific chimeras by replacing increasing portions of its terminal left and pathogenicity domains with the corresponding portions of PSTVd. Exchanges involving the left side of the pathogenicity domain led to lower rates of progeny accumulation in tomato, but one of the resulting chimeras was still able to replicate in cucumber. Exchanges involving the right side of the pathogenicity domain severely inhibited replication in tomato and appeared to abolish replication in cucumber. To identify potential interactions between nucleotides comprising the right side of the pathogenicity domain and other portions of CLVd, melting behaviors of circularized CLVd and PSTVd RNA transcripts were compared using a combination of temperature gradient gel electrophoresis and structural calculations. These analyses revealed an unexpected complementarity between the upper portion of the pathogenicity and terminal right domains of CLVd that facilitates breakdown of the rod-like native structure and formation of secondary hairpin II. Unlike secondary hairpin II, CLVd hairpin IV appears likely to act within the context of the genomic RNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- R A Owens
- Molecular Plant Pathology Laboratory, Plant Sciences Institute, USDA/ARS, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA.
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20
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Repsilber D, Wiese S, Rachen M, Schröder AW, Riesner D, Steger G. Formation of metastable RNA structures by sequential folding during transcription: time-resolved structural analysis of potato spindle tuber viroid (-)-stranded RNA by temperature-gradient gel electrophoresis. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 1999; 5:574-84. [PMID: 10199573 PMCID: PMC1369783 DOI: 10.1017/s1355838299982018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
A model of functional elements critical for replication and infectivity of the potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) was proposed earlier: a thermodynamically metastable structure containing a specific hairpin (HP II) in the (-)-strand replication intermediate is essential for template activity during (+)-strand synthesis. We present here a detailed kinetic analysis on how PSTVd (-)-strands fold during synthesis by sequential folding into a variety of metastable structures that rearrange only slowly into the structure distribution of the thermodynamic equilibrium. Synthesis of PSTVd (-)-strands was performed by T7-RNA-polymerase; the rate of synthesis was varied by altering the concentration of nucleoside triphosphates to mimic the in vivo synthesis rate of DNA-dependent RNA polymerase II. With dependence on rate and duration of the synthesis, the structure distributions were analyzed by temperature-gradient gel electrophoresis (TGGE). Metastable structures are generated preferentially at low transcription rates--similar to in vivo rates--or at short transcription times at higher rates. Higher transcription rates or longer transcription times lead to metastable structures in low or undetectable amounts. Instead different structures do gradually appear having a more rod-like shape and higher thermodynamic stability, and the thermodynamically optimal rod-like structure dominates finally. It is concluded that viroids are able to use metastable as well as stable structures for their biological functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Repsilber
- Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Germany
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21
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Baumstark T, Riesner D. Only one of four possible secondary structures of the central conserved region of potato spindle tuber viroid is a substrate for processing in a potato nuclear extract. Nucleic Acids Res 1995; 23:4246-54. [PMID: 7501442 PMCID: PMC307376 DOI: 10.1093/nar/23.21.4246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The influence of RNA secondary structure on the substrate activity of a longer-than-unit length transcript for processing to circular viroids was studied in a nuclear extract from potato suspension cells. The nuclear extract was prepared according to a modified procedure for a plant transcription extract. The transcript of the potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) consists of a monomeric molecule with 17 additional nucleotides, thus doubling most of the central conserved region of viroids of the PSTVd-class. The transcript can assume four different secondary structures, which either co-exist as conformers in solution or can be kept as metastable structures after different treatments by temperature and/or ionic strength. The structures were analysed by thermodynamic calculations and temperature-gradient gel electrophoresis and were confirmed by oligonucleotide mapping. Only the so-called extended middle structure was processed to exact viroid circles. In this structure the 5'- and 3'-ends are branching out from the rod-like viroid structure at the loop starting with nucleotide 87. The other structures were processed only if they could be rearranged into the active structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Baumstark
- Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
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22
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Wassenegger M, Heimes S, Sänger HL. An infectious viroid RNA replicon evolved from an in vitro-generated non-infectious viroid deletion mutant via a complementary deletion in vivo. EMBO J 1994; 13:6172-7. [PMID: 7813454 PMCID: PMC395597 DOI: 10.1002/j.1460-2075.1994.tb06964.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The 359 nucleotides (nt) long potato spindle tuber prototype viroid (PSTVd) is sensitive to experimentally introduced mutations as the substitution or deletion of a single nucleotide usually abolishes its infectivity, although certain sequence alterations are tolerated. This is illustrated by the fact that viroid progeny can evolve in planta upon inoculation with substitution mutants generated in vitro, and by the existence of genetically stable 356-360 nt long PSTVd field isolates. However, to date, no viable in vitro-generated deletion mutant of PSTVd has been reported. We have now found a 341 nt long infectious PSTVd RNA replicon that evolved in agrotransformed plants transformed with the dimeric form of an in vitro-deleted, non-infectious 350 bp long PSTVd cDNA unit by an additional complementary deletion of 9 nt in vivo. This is the first report that the deletion-abolished infectivity of a viroid is restored by an additional deletion that concurrently restabilized its perturbed secondary structure by abandoning an internal segment of the rod-like molecule. The fact that approximately 5% of the total PSTVd RNA genome was deleted demonstrates that the maintenance of this viroid-specific rod-like structure is not only essential for nuclease protection but also for the infectivity, i.e. transmissibility, replicability, processibility and pathogenicity of these minimal infectious agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Wassenegger
- Max-Planck-Institut für Biochemie, Abteilung Viroidforschung, Martinsried, Germany
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Castanotto D, Rossi JJ, Sarver N. Antisense catalytic RNAs as therapeutic agents. ADVANCES IN PHARMACOLOGY (SAN DIEGO, CALIF.) 1994; 25:289-317. [PMID: 8204504 DOI: 10.1016/s1054-3589(08)60435-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- D Castanotto
- Division of Biology, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Duarte, California 91010
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24
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Steger G, Baumstark T, Mörchen M, Tabler M, Tsagris M, Sänger HL, Riesner D. Structural requirements for viroid processing by RNase T1. J Mol Biol 1992; 227:719-37. [PMID: 1404386 DOI: 10.1016/0022-2836(92)90220-e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Viroids are replicated via a rolling circle-like mechanism in which (+) strand oligomeric intermediates have to be cleaved enzymatically to unit-length molecules followed by ligation to mature circles. A transcript of potato spindle tuber viroid, which is still infectious, consists of a monomeric molecule with only 22 additional nucleotides, thus doubling part of the central conserved region of viroids. It was shown that this transcript can be cleaved and ligated in vitro to circles by RNase T1. To elucidate the site and mechanism of processing, 16 different site-specific mutants of this longer-than-unit-length transcript were constructed and analyzed by in vitro processing with RNase T1, infectivity studies, temperature-gradient gel electrophoresis, and structure calculations. The wild-type sequence and several mutated transcripts are able to adopt a particular secondary structure which is the prerequisite for enzymatic cleavage and ligation by RNase T1. This "processing structure" exposes both potential cleavage sites in the nearest spatial neighborhood, thus favoring the subsequent ligation to circles. Those mutated sequences for which the formation of the processing structure is impossible or thermodynamically highly unfavored are not processed. The results demonstrate that the particular structural features of viroids enable them to be cleaved and ligated by one and the same enzyme, RNase T1. The in vitro mechanism may serve as a mechanistic model for cellular processing of viroids.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Steger
- Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, F.R.G
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25
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Hammond RW. Analysis of the virulence modulating region of potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) by site-directed mutagenesis. Virology 1992; 187:654-62. [PMID: 1546460 DOI: 10.1016/0042-6822(92)90468-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
A series of nucleotide substitutions (G46----C; C47----A; C315----U; U317----C) were introduced into the virulence modulating region of the intermediate strain of potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) in order to examine their effect upon viroid infectivity and pathogenicity with the presence of all four mutations resulting in the sequence of a previously reported severe strain of PSTVd. Eight of the resulting mutant cDNAs were characterized for infectivity and symptom induction in tomato, and the secondary structure of their corresponding RNAs was examined. The combined results of infectivity, computer analysis, and chemical mapping data imply that a previously proposed correlation between thermodynamic stability and PSTVd pathogenicity does not hold true in all cases and suggest that conformation and/or sequence-specific interactions with host factors play a role in symptom development.
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Affiliation(s)
- R W Hammond
- Microbiology and Plant Pathology Laboratory, USDA-ARS, Beltsville, Maryland 20705
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26
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Formation of a thermodynamically metastable structure containing hairpin II is critical for infectivity of potato spindle tuber viroid RNA. EMBO J 1991. [PMID: 2001685 PMCID: PMC452707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The functional relevance of a hairpin II-containing structure of viroid RNA was studied by site-directed mutagenesis, thermodynamic calculations, experimental denaturation curves and infectivity tests. Hairpin II is formed during thermal denaturation of circular viroids or as part of a metastable structure during synthesis of viroid replication intermediates. In potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd), eight single-site mutations were generated in the segments which form hairpin II. From the mutated viroid cDNA clones, linear RNA transcripts of PSTVd unit length were synthesized. The relevance of hairpin II for the mechanism of denaturation was confirmed quantitatively by optical denaturation curves and temperature-gradient gel electrophoresis. Infectivity tests showed that the mutations in the core region of hairpin II reverted to the wild type sequence whereas the mutations in the peripheral regions of hairpin II remained genetically stable. These data are in accordance with the natural variance of hairpin II in other viroids of the PSTVd class. Thus, the integrity of the core of hairpin II is critical for infectivity. Hairpin II exhibits a strong similarity in sequence as well as in three-dimensional structure to certain DNA GC-clusters found in the 5'-upstream regions of some genes in man, animals, viruses and plants. A hypothesis about a function of hairpin II as a binding site for host cell transcription factors is proposed.
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27
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Riesner D, Steger G, Zimmat R, Owens RA, Wagenhöfer M, Hillen W, Vollbach S, Henco K. Temperature-gradient gel electrophoresis of nucleic acids: analysis of conformational transitions, sequence variations, and protein-nucleic acid interactions. Electrophoresis 1989; 10:377-89. [PMID: 2475340 DOI: 10.1002/elps.1150100516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 180] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Temperature-gradient gel electrophoresis (TGGE) is applied to analyze conformational transitions and sequence variations of nucleic acids and protein-nucleic acid interactions. A linear and highly reproducible temperature-gradient is established perpendicular or parallel to the direction of the electrophoresis. The instrument consists of an electrically insulated metal plate, which is heated at one edge and cooled at the other edge by two thermostating baths and is used as an ancillary device for commercial horizontal gel electrophoresis instruments. Biopolymers are separated in TGGE according to size, shape and thermal stability of their conformational transitions. If the temperature-gradient is established perpendicular to the electrophoresis, monomolecular conformational transitions of nucleic acids show up as continuous transition curves; strand-separation leads to discontinuous transitions. In the studies on viroid RNA it was shown that natural circular viroid RNA undergoes one highly cooperative transition detected by TGGE as a drastic retardation in mobility. Oligomeric replication intermediates of viroids exhibit coexisting structures which could not be detected by any other technique. Double-stranded satellite RNA from cucumber mosaic virus is a mixture of sequence variants, all of which have the identical length of 335 nucleotides. In TGGE six different strains were resolved. Sequence variants of viroids were analyzed by hybridizing viroid RNA to (-)strand viroid RNA transcripts from viroid cDNA clones. Sequence variations lead to mismatches in the double strands and thereby to a shift of the transition curve to lower temperature. Mutations in plasmids, particularly in cloned inserts, were detected by mixing plasmids of two different clones, linearizing, denaturing, renaturing, and searching for shifts in the transition curves, which are generated by mismatch-formation during the renaturation of (+)- and (-)strands from different clones. Examples are given for different viroid clones and HIV-clones from one and the same patient. In another example, clones with point mutations from site-directed mutagenesis are analyzed and selected by TGGE. TGGE is also applied to study the effect of amino acid exchanges in the Tet repressor from E. coli on the thermal stability of the repressor and on the mode of binding of the repressor to the operator DNA. The results are discussed under the aspect that TGGE may be applied as routine analytical laboratory procedure.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Riesner
- Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Düsseldorf, Federal Republic of Germany
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28
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Diener TO. Subviral pathogens of plants: the viroids. LA RICERCA IN CLINICA E IN LABORATORIO 1989; 19:105-28. [PMID: 2672273 DOI: 10.1007/bf02871800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Research during the last 15 years has conclusively shown that viroids are not only fundamentally different from viruses at the molecular level, but that they are most likely not directly related to viruses in an evolutionary sense. Today, viroids are among the most thoroughly studied biological macromolecules. Their molecular structures have been elucidated to a large extent, but much needs to be learned regarding the correlation between molecular structure and biological function. The availability of the tools of recombinant DNA technology in viroid research promises rapid progress in these areas of inquiry.
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Affiliation(s)
- T O Diener
- Center for Agricultural Biotechnology, University of Maryland, College Park
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29
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Rosenbaum V, Riesner D. Temperature-gradient gel electrophoresis. Thermodynamic analysis of nucleic acids and proteins in purified form and in cellular extracts. Biophys Chem 1987; 26:235-46. [PMID: 2440495 DOI: 10.1016/0301-4622(87)80026-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 170] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
A temperature-gradient gel electrophoresis technique and its application to the study of structural transitions of nucleic acids and protein-nucleic acid complexes are described. The temperature gradient is established in a slab gel by means of a simple ancillary device for a commercial horizontal gel apparatus. The gradient may be freely selected between 10 and 80 degrees C, and is highly reproducible and linear. In a normal application the biopolymers migrate perpendicular to the temperature gradient so that every individual molecule is at constant temperature throughout electrophoresis. The structural transition of a biopolymer is seen as a continuous band which is retarded or speeded up in the temperature range of the transition. Dissociation processes are mostly irreversible under the conditions of electrophoresis and, therefore, show up as discontinuous transitions from a slow-moving to fast-moving band. As examples the conformational transitions of viroids, double-stranded RNA from reovirus, double-stranded satellite RNA from cucumber mosaic virus and repressor-operator complexes have been studied. It could be shown that by this method dsRNA molecules may be differentiated which differ only in one base-pair, or proteins differing in one amino acid only. As a particular advantage, temperature-gradient gel electrophoresis allows the study of conformational transitions of biopolymers which have not been purified. The biopolymer may either be identified by silver staining as a specific band among many others or, if the study is carried out on nucleic acids, these may be recorded by hybridization with a radioactive probe.
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Abstract
Group I introns are found in nuclear rRNA genes, mitochondrial mRNA and rRNA genes, and chloroplast tRNA genes. The hallmarks of this intron class are a 16-nucleotide consensus sequence and three sets of complementary sequences. The viroids (circular pathogenic plant RNAs) and the virusoids (plant satellite RNAs) also contain the consensus sequence and the three sets of complementary bases. Pairing of the complementary bases would generate a viroid structure resembling a group I intron, which might be stabilized in vivo through interactions with proteins. The Tetrahymena self-splicing rRNA intron further has sequences homologous with regions of potato spindle tuber viroid associated with the severity of viroid symptoms.
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31
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Diener TO. Viroid processing: a model involving the central conserved region and hairpin I. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1986; 83:58-62. [PMID: 3455758 PMCID: PMC322790 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.83.1.58] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
A model is proposed for the processing of oligomeric viroid replication intermediates into monomeric, circular progeny viroids. The model identifies a thermodynamically extremely stable base-paired configuration that partially or completely dimeric, as well as higher, viroid oligomers can assume and postulates that this structure, which involves structural features common to all viroids (the central conserved region and secondary hairpin I), is essential for precise cleavage and ligation. The model explains why recombinant plasmids containing tandem repeats of two or more viroid sequence equivalents are highly infectious when inoculated into viroid-susceptible plants, why certain plasmids containing partially duplicated viroid-specific inserts are less infectious, and why plasmids containing monomeric inserts are noninfectious or at best marginally infectious. The model also accounts for the fact that vector-derived sequences on either or both sides of the viroid sequence(s) of a restriction fragment are precisely excised and are lacking in progeny viroids.
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Meshi T, Ishikawa M, Watanabe Y, Yamaya J, Okada Y, Sano T, Shikata E. The sequence necessary for the infectivity of hop stunt viroid cDNA clones. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1985. [DOI: 10.1007/bf00425424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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33
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Steger G, Hofmann H, Förtsch J, Gross HJ, Randles JW, Sänger HL, Riesner D. Conformational transitions in viroids and virusoids: comparison of results from energy minimization algorithm and from experimental data. J Biomol Struct Dyn 1984; 2:543-71. [PMID: 6086063 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.1984.10507591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Viroids are single-stranded circular RNA molecules of 240 to 400 nucleotides which are pathogens of certain higher plants and replicate autonomously in the host cell. Virusoids are similar to viroids in respect to size and circularity but replicate only as genomic part of a plant virus. Their structure and structural transitions have been investigated by thermo-dynamic, kinetic and hydrodynamic methods. The special features of the sequences of these RNAs, which are the basis for their secondary structures and structural flexibility, are investigated with theoretical methods. A set of thermodynamic parameters for helix growth and loop formation is selected from the literature to calculate secondary structures and structural transitions of single-stranded RNAs. Appropriate modifications of the chosen parameter set are discussed. For calculations we used either Tinoco-plots and the model of "cooperative helices" or the Zuker-program based on the exact algorithm of Nussinov et al, or both. Calculations were done for viroids and virusoids. As both are single-stranded, circular RNAs we had to modify the Zuker-program as described in the appendix. Calculations are done for different viroids, i.e. potato spindle tuber, citrus exocortis, chrysanthemum stunt, coconut cadang-cadang, and avocado sunblotch, and for two virusoids, i.e. the circular RNAs of Solanum nodiflorum mottle virus, and velvet tobacco mottle virus. For viroids the calculations confirm our earlier theoretical and experimental results about the extended native structure and the highly cooperative transition into a branched structure. Virusoids show less base pairing, branching in the native secondary structure, and only low cooperativity during denaturation. They resemble more closely the properties of random sequences with length, G:C content, and circularity as in viroids but statistical sequences. The comparison of viroids, virusoids, and circular RNA or random sequences confirms the uniqueness of viroid structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Steger
- Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Universität Düsseldorf, FRG
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34
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Schumacher J, Randles JW, Riesner D. A two-dimensional electrophoretic technique for the detection of circular viroids and virusoids. Anal Biochem 1983; 135:288-95. [PMID: 6660504 DOI: 10.1016/0003-2697(83)90685-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
A new gel electrophoretic technique for the rapid and sensitive detection of circular viroids and virusoids is described. Starting from plant material, a typical multisample analysis requires less than 8 h. Viroid concentrations as low as 60 ng/g tissue can be detected unambiguously without the use of radioactivity or highly specialized laboratory equipment. The technique presented here is compared to earlier methods of gel electrophoresis, nucleic acid fingerprinting, and currently employed hybridization techniques. A number of important technical advantages, including speed, simplicity, and sensitivity, suggest that the methods described here may have wide utility in checking the spread of viroid infections.
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35
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Riesner D, Colpan M, Goodman TC, Nagel L, Schumacher J, Steger G, Hofmann H. Dynamics and interactions of viroids. J Biomol Struct Dyn 1983; 1:669-88. [PMID: 6400894 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.1983.10507474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Viroids are single stranded circular RNA molecules of 120,000 daltons which are pathogens of certain higher plants and replicate autonomously in the host cell. Virusoids are similar to viroids in respect to size and circularity but do replicate only as a part of a larger plant virus. The structure and structural transitions have been investigated by thermodynamic, kinetic and hydrodynamic methods and have been compared to results from calculations of the most favorable native structures and the denaturation process. The algorithm of Zuker et al. was modified for the application to circular nucleic acids. For viroids the calculations confirm our earlier theoretical and experimental results about the extended native structure and the highly cooperative transition into a branched structure. Virusoids, although described in the literature as viroid-like, show less base pairing, branching in the native secondary structure, and only low cooperativity during denaturation. They resemble more closely the properties of random sequences with length, G:C content, and circularity as in viroids but sequences generated by a computer. The comparison of viroids, virusoids and circular RNA of random sequences underlines the uniqueness of viroid structure. The interactions of viroids with dye and oligonucleotide-ligands and with RNA-polymerase II from wheat germ, which enzyme replicates viroids in vitro, has been studied in order to correlate viroid structure and its ability for specific interactions. Specificity of the interactions may be interpreted on the basis of the neighbourhood of double stranded and single stranded regions. In the host cell viroids are localized in the cell nucleus; they may be detected as free nucleic acids and in high molecular weight complexes together with other RNA and proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Riesner
- Institute für Physikalische Biologie, Universität Düsseldorf, Germany
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Colpan M, Schumacher J, Brüggemann W, Sänger HL, Riesner D. Large-scale purification of viroid RNA using Cs2SO4 gradient centrifugation and high-performance liquid chromatography. Anal Biochem 1983; 131:257-65. [PMID: 6614457 DOI: 10.1016/0003-2697(83)90164-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
A procedure for the purification of viroid RNA from tomato plants is described which yields up to a milligram of viroid RNA of gel electrophoretic homogeneity within 2 days. This technique is at least three times as fast as previous methods and is generally applicable to other RNA species. Plant material was homogenized and phenol extracted. In a Cs2SO4 density gradient, viroid RNA together with low-molecular-weight RNA, was separated from large single-stranded RNA, DNA, polysaccharides, polyphenols, and other compounds. The separation is based on the differences in the buoyant density and on the selective precipitation of large single-stranded RNA in Cs2SO4. Further purification of viroid RNA was achieved by HPLC over a weak anion exchanger linked to silica gel of optimized pore size. The elution was carried out by a salt gradient with complete exclusion of divalent metal ions. The procedures were applied to whole plants, leaves, stems, roots, cells, and protoplasts. The yields of nucleic acids at the different steps of purification are given for leaves, stems, and roots.
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Randles JW, Steger G, Riesner D. Structural transitions in viroid-like RNAs associated with cadang-cadang disease, velvet tobacco mottle virus, and Solanum nodiflorum mottle virus. Nucleic Acids Res 1982; 10:5569-86. [PMID: 7145707 PMCID: PMC320907 DOI: 10.1093/nar/10.18.5569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The conformational transitions of viroid-like RNAs associated with cadang-cadang disease, velvet tobacco mottle virus, and solanum nodiflorum mottle virus were studied by melting analysis and fast temperature jump technique in 1 mM sodium-cacodylate, 10 mM NaCl, 0.1 mM EDTA, pH 6.8. The 4 circular RNAs of cadang-cadang show a highly cooperative transition between 45 and 49 degrees C, respectively, and a second transition of less hypochromicity at about 10 degrees C higher temperatures. The data are interpreted quantitatively on the basis of the sequences and secondary structure models. A very similar scheme for the structure and structural transitions as derived earlier for other viroids applies to the cadang-cadang RNAs. In the main transition the total native secondary structure is disrupted and a stable hairpin consisting of 9 base pairs is newly formed which dissociates in the second transition. The thermal denaturation of the circular RNAs from the viruses mentioned above is clearly distinct from viroid RNA in respect to stability and cooperativity. The results on cadang-cadang RNA are discussed in the light of recent hypotheses about the interference of viroids with the splicing process of the host cell.
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Riesner D, Kaper JM, Randles JW. Stiffness of viroids and viroid-like RNA in solution. Nucleic Acids Res 1982; 10:5587-98. [PMID: 7145708 PMCID: PMC320908 DOI: 10.1093/nar/10.18.5587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The sedimentation coefficients of the potato spindle tuber viroid, four viroid-like RNAs from cadang-cadang-disease, circular RNA from velvet tobacco mottle virus, circular RNA from Solanum nodiflorum mottle virus and double stranded RNA5 from cucumber mosaic virus were measured in the analytical ultracentrifuge. The numbers of nucleotides of the RNA species varied between 246 and 670. The hydrodynamic models of rigid rods and flexible cylinders were applied for the interpretation of the sedimentation coefficients. Double-stranded RNA5 from cucumber mosaic virus with 335 basepairs fits the model of a rigid rod with an hydrated diameter of 29 A. Potato spindle tuber viroid and the four viroid-like RNA species of cadang-cadang-disease form a homologous series of flexible cylinders with a Kuhn's statistical length lambda-1 of 600 A. The circular RNA from the two viruses mentioned above are more flexibel than the viroids and viroid-like RNAs. The hydrodynamic interpretation is in accordance with thermodynamic data and secondary structure models. In two of the RNAs from cadang-cadang, cruciform structures would also be possible on the basis of the nucleotide sequence. The hydrodynamic data, however, favour clearly the extended structure over the cruciform.
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Gross HJ, Krupp G, Domdey H, Raba M, Jank P, Lossow C, Alberty H, Ramm K, Sänger HL. Nucleotide sequence and secondary structure of citrus exocortis and chrysanthemum stunt viroid. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF BIOCHEMISTRY 1982; 121:249-57. [PMID: 7060550 DOI: 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1982.tb05779.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
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.
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Structure and function of viroids. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1981. [DOI: 10.1007/bf02425375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Gross HJ, Liebl U, Alberty H, Krupp G, Domdey H, Ramm K, Sänger HL. A severe and a mild potato spindle tuber viroid isolate differ in three nucleotide exchanges only. Biosci Rep 1981; 1:235-41. [PMID: 6271277 DOI: 10.1007/bf01114910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
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.
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Studies on encapsidated viroid-like RNA II. Purification and characterization of a viroid-like RNA associated with velvet tobacco mottle virus (VTMoV). Virology 1981; 108:123-33. [DOI: 10.1016/0042-6822(81)90532-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/14/1980] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Wild U, Ramm K, Sänger HL, Riesner D. Loops in viroids. Accessibility to tRNA anticodon binding. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF BIOCHEMISTRY 1980; 103:227-35. [PMID: 6153976 DOI: 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1980.tb04307.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
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