Evidence for the existence of the loop E motif of Potato spindle tuber viroid in vivo.
RNA motifs comprising nucleotides that interact through non-Watson-Crick base pairing play critical roles in RNA functions, often by serving as the sites for RNA-RNA, RNA-protein, or RNA small ligand interactions. The structures of viral and viroid RNA motifs are studied commonly by in vitro, computational, and mutagenesis approaches. Demonstration of the in vivo existence of a motif will help establish its biological significance and promote mechanistic studies on its functions. By using UV cross-linking and primer extension, we have obtained direct evidence for the in vivo existence of the loop E motif of Potato spindle tuber viroid. We present our findings and discuss their biological implications.
Wang
Ying
Y
Department of Plant Cellular and Molecular Biology, Ohio State University, 207 Rightmire Hall, 1060 Carmack Road, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
Zhong
Xuehua
X
Itaya
Asuka
A
Ding
Biao
B
D017931:DNA Primers; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000378:metabolism; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects; D011198:Solanum tuberosum / Q000378:metabolism*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014772:Viroids / Q000737:chemistry*
D017931:DNA Primers; D012367:RNA, Viral