Viroids: structure and function [cause of several important diseases of cultivated plants]

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...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 1979-08, Vol.205 (4409), p.859-866
Main Author: Diener, T. O.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Base Sequence
Case studies
DNA
DNA, Viral - genetics
Enzymes
Gels
Molecular Weight
Molecules
Nucleic Acid Conformation
Nucleic acids
Nucleotide sequences
Plant Viruses - genetics
Plant Viruses - isolation & purification
Plant Viruses - ultrastructure
Plants
RNA
RNA, Viral - genetics
Templates, Genetic
Viral research
Viroids
Virology
Virus Replication
Virus research
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Summary: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.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.472709