Role of an RNA pseudoknot involving the polyA tail in replication of Pepino mosaic potexvirus and related plant viruses.

ABSTRACT: Pepino mosaic virus (PepMV) is a potexvirus of the family Alphaflexiviridae within the order of Tymovirales that threatens tomato production worldwide. PepMV possesses a positive-strand RNA genome with a 5'-methylguanosine cap and a 3'-polyA tail. Previously, using partially-purified viral RNA polymerase important secondary structures within the 3'-untranslated region (UTR) of PepMV RNA were identified. Here we show that an RNA pseudoknot can be formed in the 3'-UTR that includes part of the polyA tail. Using protoplasts, we demonstrate that the pseudoknot is required for replication of PepMV RNA. Mutational analysis and native gel electrophoresis further show that the pseudoknot is stabilized by UAU base triples, as is the human telomerase RNA pseudoknot. The presence of a pseudoknot in s

SUBMITTER: Olsthoorn RCL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9262919 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature