PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Sanger

Publications and source records attributed to M Sanger.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

Production of infectious RNA transcripts from full-length cDNA clones representing two subgroups of peanut stunt virus strains: mapping satellite RNA support to RNA1.

Full-length cDNA clones from which infectious transcripts could be generated were constructed from the genomic RNAs of two distinct strains of peanut stunt cucumovirus (PSV), PSV-ER and PSV-W. PSV-ER, a subgroup I strain, is known to support efficient replication of satellite RNA (satRNA) in infected plants, whereas PSV-W, a subgroup II strain, does not support satRNA replication. Although artificial reassortants (pseudorecombinants) of all possible combinations of infectious transcripts representing RNA1, RNA2 and RNA3 were infectious, only those having RNA1 from PSV-ER supported the replication of satRNA. These results demonstrate conclusively that support of PSV satRNA replication maps to RNA1. Comparisons of secondary structure predictions of the C-terminal helicase-like domain of the 1a proteins of four PSV strains belonging to two subgroups did not reveal any obvious differences between strains that differ in satRNA support. The complete nucleotide sequence of RNA1 from strains PSV-ER and PSV-W were determined and found to be 79% identical. Sequence comparison analysis of RNA1 sequences of cucumoviruses confirmed the placement of the PSV strains into two distinct subgroups.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Symptom severity of beet western yellows virus strain ST9 is conferred by the ST9-associated RNA and is not associated with virus release from the phloem.

The ST9 strain of beet western yellows virus (BWYV ST9) is unique among BWYV strains because it encapsidates not only its 5.6-kb genomic RNA but also a 2.8-kb RNA of distinct nucleotide sequence, designated as the ST9-associated RNA. We obtained isolates of BWYV ST9 that are free of the associated RNA by transfecting Nicotiana tabacum protoplasts with transcripts of an ST9 genomic cDNA clone. Aphids were fed on extracts of infected protoplasts and were transferred to young Shepherd's Purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris) plants. When the protoplast inoculum was ST9 genomic transcript or virion RNA of the L-1 strain of BWYV (free of the associated RNA), symptoms were mild and characteristic of BWYV L-1. When ST9-associated RNA was included in the inoculum with genomic RNA of either source, subsequently infected Shepherd's Purse plants showed the severe symptoms that are characteristic of BWYV ST9. Inclusion of ST9-associated RNA in the inoculum with ST9 genomic RNA increased the accumulation of capsid antigen and ST9 genomic RNA, relative to infections initiated with ST9 genomic RNA alone. Using gold-labeled antibody and electron microscopy, we assessed the distribution of virions in Shepherd's Purse plants. Regardless of whether the associated RNA was present, sites showing immunoreactivity above background levels were restricted to the phloem, suggesting that the increased BWYV ST9 titer and symptom severity that are correlated with the presence of the ST9-associated RNA are not due to escape of the infection from phloem limitation.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Beet western yellows virus-associated RNA: an independently replicating RNA that stimulates virus accumulation.

Infections of plants by subviral RNA agents, alone or in association with virus genomic RNA molecules, are well known. The ST9 strain of beet western yellows virus encapsidates not only the 5.6-kilobase genomic RNA that is typical of luteoviruses, but also a 2.8-kilobase-associated RNA that has a distinct nucleotide sequence. The ST9-associated RNA has been postulated to be a satellite RNA, which by definition would be capable of replicating only in coinfections with beet western yellows virus or closely related viruses. To characterize the associated RNA, we inoculated protoplasts and leaves with in vitro transcripts of the virus genomic RNA and the ST9-associated RNA separately and in combination. Surprisingly, the ST9-associated RNA alone replicated efficiently in both protoplasts and leaves, and it stimulated accumulation of the virus genomic RNA in protoplasts. Thus, the ST9-associated RNA is a newly discovered type of plant infectious agent, which depends on its associated virus, beet western yellows virus, for encapsidation but not for replication.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1991

The regions of sequence variation in caulimovirus gene VI.

The sequence of gene VI from figwort mosaic virus (FMV) clone x4 was determined and compared with that previously published for FMV clone DxS. Both clones originated from the same virus isolation, but the virus used to clone DxS was propagated extensively in a host of a different family prior to cloning whereas that used to clone x4 was not. Differences in the amino acid sequence inferred from the DNA sequences occurred in two clusters. An N-terminal conserved region preceded two regions of variation separated by a central conserved region. Variation in cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) gene VI sequences, all of which were derived from virus isolates from hosts from one host family, was similar to that seen in the FMV comparison, though the extent of variation was less. Alignment of gene VI domains from FMV and CaMV revealed regions of amino acid sequence identical in both viruses within the conserved regions. The similarity in the pattern of conserved and variable domains of these two viruses suggests common host-interactive functions in caulimovirus gene VI homologues, and possibly an analogy between caulimoviruses and certain animal viruses in the influence of the host on sequence variability of viral genes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Characteristics of a strong promoter from figwort mosaic virus: comparison with the analogous 35S promoter from cauliflower mosaic virus and the regulated mannopine synthase promoter.

A segment of DNA from the genome of figwort mosaic virus (FMV) strain M3 possesses promoter activity when tested in electroporated protoplasts from, and transgenic plants of, Nicotiana tabacum cv. Xanthi nc. The 1.1 kb DNA segment, designated the '34S' promoter, is derived from a position on the FMV genome comparable to the position on the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) genome containing the 35S promoter. The 34S and 35S promoters show approximately 63% nucleotide homology in the TATA, CCACT, and -18 to +1 domains, but in sequences further upstream the homology drops below 50%. Promoter activities were estimated using beta-glucuronidase and neomycin phosphotransferase II reporter gene systems. The activity of the 34S promoter segment approximates that of the 35S promoter in both protoplast transient expression assays and in stably transformed tobacco plants. Truncation of 5' sequences from the 34S promoter indicates that promoter strength depends upon DNA sequences located several hundred nucleotides upstream from the TATA box. In leaf tissue the 34S promoter is 20-fold more active than the mannopine synthase (MAS) promoter from Agrobacterium tumefaciens T-DNA. The 34S promoter lacks the root-specific and wound-stimulated expression of the MAS promoter, showing relatively uniform root, stem, leaf, and floral activities.

Base Sequence↗