Related Experiment Videos
Plant pathogenic RNAs and RNA catalysis
1Department of Plant Science, Waite Institute, University of Adelaide, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia. bsymons@waite.adelaide.edu.au
Nucleic Acids Research
|July 15, 1997
Summary
Small circular plant pathogenic RNAs use RNA enzymes for processing. Discoveries suggest new self-cleavage reactions in viroids and potential new pathogenic RNAs.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
- RNA Catalysis
Background:
- Small circular pathogenic RNAs replicate via rolling circle mechanism.
- Replication involves processing multimeric intermediates into monomers for circularization.
- Known RNAs include viroids, viroid-like RNAs, and satellite RNAs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the RNA-catalyzed processing mechanisms of small circular pathogenic RNAs.
- To explore the diversity of self-cleavage reactions in these RNAs.
- To identify potential new types of self-cleavage reactions in undiscovered RNAs.
Main Methods:
- In vitro analysis of RNA processing.
- Structural analysis of self-cleavage mechanisms (hammerhead and hairpin structures).
- Comparative analysis of known and potential pathogenic RNAs.
Main Results:
- All known plus-strand RNAs self-cleave via hammerhead structures.
- Eight of ten known minus-strand RNAs self-cleave, using hammerhead or hairpin structures.
- Approximately 20 viroids await processing mechanism determination, predicted to involve conserved self-cleavage.
Conclusions:
- RNA catalysis is essential for processing small circular pathogenic RNAs.
- Diverse self-cleavage mechanisms (hammerhead, hairpin) are employed.
- New self-cleavage reactions are predicted in currently uncharacterized viroids and potentially in undiscovered pathogenic RNAs.