Abstract
The 5′ terminus of each of the three genomic RNAs (RNAs 1, 2 and 3) of Tomato aspermy virus (TAV) begins with the sequence 5′-GUUU, which is also shared by a number of other viruses. Mutagenic analyses showed that the 5′-GUUU sequence of RNAs 1 and 2 of TAV was dispensable for viral infection and did not prevent symptom induction. On the other hand, substitution of U at position 5 for G in RNA 1, but not RNA 2, induced veinal necrosis symptoms in Nicotiana glutinosa. The mutants constructed included insertion of UUU into the 5′-GUUU sequence of TAV RNAs 1 and/or 2. All RNA 2 mutants induced more severe symptoms than viral RNAs containing either mutated RNA 1 or most combinations of mutated RNAs 1 and 2. Some combinations of mutated RNAs 1 and 2 also induced veinal necrosis in N. glutinosa. Virulence was unrelated to the levels of viral RNA accumulation. Sequence analysis of progeny viral RNAs showed that only the mutant viral RNAs with a G to U substitution in RNA 1 and the deletion of the 5′-GUUU in both RNAs 1 and 2 were able to maintain the same sequence as the inoculum. The other mutants either reverted to the wildtype sequence or underwent further deletion or insertion. None of the constructed mutants were able to compete for accumulation with the wildtype virus after co-inoculation to the plant species tested.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
C.M.A. van Rossum L. Neeleman J.F. Bol (1997) Virology 235 333–341
K. Sivakumaran C.C. Kao (1999) J Virol 73 6415–6423
B-J. Shi S-W. Ding R.H. Symons (1997) J Gen Virol 78 1181–1185
B.J. Shi P. Palukaitis R.H. Symons (2004) Virus Genes 28 277–283
P. Palukaitis F. García-Arenal (2003) Adv Virus Res 62 241–323
B-J. Shi S-W. Ding R.H. Symons (1997) J Gen Virol 78 505–510
O. Fichot M. Girard (1990) Nucleic Acids Res 18 6162
J.J. Bernal E. Moriones F. García-Arenal (1991) J Gen Virol 72 2191–2195
E. Moriones M.J. Roossinck F. García-Arenal (1991) J Gen Virol 72 779–783
I.M. Moreno J.J. Bernal B. García Blas Particlede E. Rodriguez-Cerezo F. García-Arenal (1997) Mol Plant Microbe Interact 10 171–179
B-J. Shi J. Miller R.H. Symons P. Palukaitis (2003) Mol Plant-Microbe Interact 16 261–267
F. Boccard D. Baulcombe (1993) Virology 193 563–578
T. Canto D.A.M. Prior K.H. Hellwald K.J. Oparka P. Palukaitis (1997) Virology 237 237–248
E.A.G. Vossen Particlevan der J.F. Bol (1996) Virology 220 539–543
K. Sivakumaran C.C. Kao (2000) Mol Plant Pathol 1 337–346
B-J. Shi P. Palukaitis R.H. Symons (2002) Mol Plant-Microbe Interact 15 947–955
E.A.G. Vossen Particlevan der L. Neeleman J.F. Bol (1996) Virology 221 271–280
D.E. Sleat P. Palukaitis (1990) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 87 2946–2950
R.F. Pacha P. Ahlquist (1992) Virology 187 298–307
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Shi, BJ., Palukaitis, P. & Symons, R.H. The Conserved, 5′ Termini of RNAs 1 and 2 of Tomato aspermy virus are Dispensable for Infection but Affect Virulence. Virus Genes 30, 181–191 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11262-004-5626-1
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11262-004-5626-1