Conserved motifs in a tombusvirus polymerase modulate genome replication, subgenomic transcription, and amplification of defective interfering RNAs.

ABSTRACT:

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The replication of plus-strand RNA virus genomes is mediated by virally encoded RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RdRps). We have investigated the role of the C-proximal region in the RdRp of tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV) in mediating viral RNA synthesis. TBSV is the prototype species in the genus Tombusvirus, family Tombusviridae, and its RdRp is responsible for replicating the viral genome, transcribing two subgenomic mRNAs, and supporting replication of defective interfering RNAs. Comparative sequence analysis of the RdRps of tombusvirids identified three highly conserved motifs in their C-proximal regions, and these sequences were subsequently targeted for mutational analysis in TBSV. The results revealed that these motifs are important for (i) synthesizing viral geno

SUBMITTER: Gunawardene CD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4337532 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature