Sequence and structure of defective interfering RNAs associated with cucumber necrosis virus infections

• Published in: Journal of general virology 1993-08, Vol.74 (8), p.1715-1720
• Main Authors: Finnen, Renee L, Rochon, D'Ann M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Base Sequence; Biological and medical sciences; cucumber necrosis virus; Defective Viruses - genetics; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Molecular Sequence Data; Mutation - genetics; Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection; Plant Viruses - genetics; Plant viruses and viroids; RNA, Viral - genetics; Systematics. Structure, properties and multiplication. Genetics
• ISSN: 0022-1317; 1465-2099
• DOI: 10.1099/0022-1317-74-8-1715

1 Department of Microbiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z3 and 2 Research Station, Agriculture Canada, 6660 Northwest Marine Drive, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1X2 The presence of symptom-attenuating defective interfering (DI) RNAs in a laboratory culture of cucumber necrosis tombusvirus (CNV) was confirmed. Sequencing of cDNA clones of these DI RNAs revealed that CNV DI RNAs retained sequences from the CNV 5'-untranslated and 3'-terminal regions as well as a portion of the coding region for the 92K protein. Similar sequence arrangements were also observed in symptom-attenuating DI RNAs generated de novo from synthetic wild-type CNV transcripts. A comparison of the sequences and biological activities of these CNV DI RNAs is presented. In co-infections of synthetic wild-type CNV and CNV DI RNAs, prominent RNA species of a higher M r than the DI RNA used in the co-infection were found. The possible nature of these RNA species is discussed. Received 13 January 1992; accepted 23 March 1993.