The satellite RNA of Lucerne Transient Streak Virus (LTSV) is a 322-nucleotide, single-stranded circular RNA that has a rod-like structure very similar to that of viroids. As it does not encode any translation products and cannot replicate independently of a helper virus, the satellite RNA is proposed to rely on viral-encoded proteins for the replication and/or cell-to-cell movement that facilitate its systemic infection in a host. To investigate the requirements for replication of the LTSV satellite RNA, transgenic plant systems were generated to express the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and predicted viral transport protein independently as well as in combination. Results of infectivity assays of these transgenic lines demonstrated for the first time that the viral-encoded RNA-dependent RNA polymerase is necessary and sufficient for the replication of LTSV satellite RNA, and that no additional viral proteins are required for its cell-to-cell or systemic transport.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:TORONTO/oai:tspace.library.utoronto.ca:1807/33510 |
| Date | 26 November 2012 |
| Creators | Rogalska, Tetyana |
| Contributors | AbouHaidar, Mounir |
| Source Sets | University of Toronto |
| Language | en_ca |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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