title: Co-infection by two distinct totivirus-like double-stranded RNA elements in Chalara elegans (Thielaviopsis basicola).
abstract: A full-length cDNA clone was developed from a 5.3 kb double-stranded (ds) RNA element present in strain CKP of the plant pathogenic fungus Chalara elegans. The complete nucleotide sequence was 5310 bp in length and sequence analysis revealed that it contained three large putative open reading frames (ORFs). ORF1 was initiated at nucleotide position 329 and encoded a putative coat protein, which shared some homology (35-45% amino acid identity) to other dsRNAs in the family Totiviridae. Both ORF2 and ORF3 were initiated at nucleotide positions 2619 and 4071, respectively, and encoded a putative RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). Sequence comparison using deduced amino acid sequences of both ORF2 and ORF3 revealed that all RdRp conserved motifs shared highest homology (41% identity) to that of SsRNA1 of Totiviridae. This dsRNA in C. elegans was designated Chalara elegans RNA Virus 1 (CeRV1). During the development of the full-length cDNA clone of CeRV1, several partial cDNA clones from an additional dsRNA fragment in strain CKP were obtained, which when aligned with each other, produced one linear fragment which was 2336 bp long. Northern blot and sequence analysis of this second clone showed it differed in sequence composition from CeRV1. This dsRNA in C. elegans was designated Chalara elegans RNA Virus 2 (CeRV2). Sequence analysis of CeRV2 showed it contained all conserved motifs and shared some homology (45% amino acid identity) to RdRp regions of Totiviridae. The nucleotide and amino acid sequences of the conserved motifs of the RdRp regions between CeRV1 and CeRV2 showed an identity of 56% and 50%, respectively. These findings suggest that co-infection of two distinct totivirus-like dsRNAs (CeRV1 and CeRV2) in C. elegans, a first report in this fungus. Transmission electron microscopy of strain CKP of C. elegans revealed the presence of putative virus-like particles in the cytoplasm, which were similar both in shape and size to viruses in the Totiviridae.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Centre for Environmental Biology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada V5A 1S6.
authors.forename: Yunjung
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Delano
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: James
authors.forename: Zamir K
authors.initials: ZK
authors.lastname: Punja
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001203:Ascomycota / Q000821:virology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000648:ultrastructure / Q000821:virology; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D016366:Open Reading Frames / Q000235:genetics; D010802:Phylogeny; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D019197:Totivirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D036022:Capsid Proteins; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded; D012367:RNA, Viral; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase