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Updated: Aug 2, 2026
06:34
Virus-induced Gene Silencing (VIGS) in Nicotiana benthamiana and Tomato
Published on: June 10, 2009
Tomato spotted wilt virus S-segment mRNAs have overlapping 3'-ends containing a predicted stem-loop structure and
Ingeborg van Knippenberg1, Rob Goldbach, Richard Kormelink
1Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University, Binnenhaven 11, 6709PD Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Virus Research
|April 23, 2005
Summary
Transcription termination sites for Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) S-RNA encoded mRNAs were mapped to the 3'-end of an intergenic hairpin structure. This hairpin may play a role in TSWV RNA synthesis regulation.
Area of Science:
- Plant virology
- Molecular biology
- RNA structure and function
Background:
- Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) possesses ambisense M- and S-RNA segments.
- An A/U-rich intergenic region within these segments is predicted to form a stable hairpin structure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To map the transcription termination sites of S-segment encoded N and NSs mRNAs.
- To investigate the potential role of the intergenic hairpin structure in transcription termination.
Main Methods:
- In vitro transcription system.
- Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) cloning.
- Northern blot analysis for size estimation.
Main Results:
- Transcription termination sites for N and NSs mRNAs were mapped to the 3 -end of the intergenic hairpin.
- Specific positions for termination were identified (1568-1574 for N, 1852-1839 for NSs).
- Viral transcripts were found to contain a predicted stem-loop structure at their 3 -end.
Conclusions:
- The 3 -end hairpin structure is suggested to be involved in the termination of viral transcription.
- This finding provides insights into the regulatory mechanisms of TSWV RNA synthesis.
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