Environment determines fidelity for an RNA virus replicase.
The rate of insertion and deletion mutations of the replicase of Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) was determined in planta by using a parasitic satellite RNA (satRNA) as a reporter. We found that the CMV replicase had different fidelity in different environments, with important implications in viral disease evolution. Insertions were very rare events, irrespective of the region of the satRNA genome assayed and independent of the hosts tested. On the other hand, deletion events were more frequent but were restricted to a highly structured region of the reporter. Deletion mutation rates were different for the two hosts tested, although the mutation distribution was not influenced by the hosts. Moreover, hot spots with high mutation rates were identified on the satRNA genome.
Pita
Justin S
JS
Plant Biology Division, The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, P.O. Box 2180, Ardmore, Oklahoma 73402, USA.
de Miranda
Joachim R
JR
Schneider
William L
WL
Roossinck
Marilyn J
MJ
D001483:Base Sequence; D002212:Capsicum / Q000821:virology; D017799:Cucumovirus / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D019244:RNA, Satellite / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase / Q000378:metabolism*; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000821:virology; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
D019244:RNA, Satellite; D014764:Viral Proteins; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase