title: The peach latent mosaic viroid replication initiation site is located at a universal position that appears to be defined by a conserved sequence.
abstract: Viroids replicate through a rolling circle mechanism that is exclusively RNA dependent. In this study, we initially revisited the determination of the replication initiation sites of peach latent mosaic viroid (PLMVd). A universal initiation site for each of the PLMVd polarities (position A50/C51 and U284 for the plus and minus strands, respectively) that is shared by a relatively wide repertoire of viroid variants was identified, in agreement with a previous report based on a different methodology. Subsequently, an in vitro selection procedure based on a model rolling circle replication assay was developed. This latter experiment led to the identification of a highly conserved CAGACG box which is reminiscent of the sequence found in the vicinity of the PLMVd initiation sites. The conserved sequence contributes to delineating the initiation site and provides an explanation for the presence of a specific universal initiation site on the PLMVd molecule.
authors.affiliation: RNA group/Groupe ARN, Département de biochimie, Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke, 3001, 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada J1H 5N4. Julie.Motard@usherbrooke.ca
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Motard
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bolduc
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Perreault
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D014644:Genetic Variation; D016679:Genome, Viral; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009029:Mosaic Viruses / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology*; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D027861:Prunus / Q000821:virology*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D014772:Viroids / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology*; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D012367:RNA, Viral