Mutational analysis of the 'conserved region' of maize streak virus suggests its involvement in replication

Maize streak virus as well as other geminiviruses contain a potential hairpin structure with the conserved sequence TAATATTAC in the loop. We assessed the possible involvement of this structure in replication and symptom induction of the virus. A series of insertion and deletion mutants were analyzed by agroinfection. Deletion of the hairpin or insertions in the conserved sequence abolished symptom development. Viral DNA could not be detected in the infected tissue. However, a mutant with a point mutation in the 'conserved' sequence, isolated after inoculation of maize plants with an insertion mutant, was able to replicate and to induce symptoms.