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Submitted to: American Phytopathological Society
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 6/15/1997 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Viroids are the smallest known infectious agents and cause a number of diseases of crop plants. Viroids are covalently closed, circular RNA molecules in the size range of 250-450 nucleotides, do not apparently encode proteins, replicate without a helper virus, and are not encapsidated. In many cases, viroid infection results in symptoms of stunting, epinasty, and vein clearing. We are studying the molecular basis of the response of `Rutgers' tomato to infection by potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd). Protein phosphorylation may play a role in this response. Expression of a specific protein kinase is up-regulated in plants inoculated with PSTVd strains causing intermediate and severe, but not mild, symptoms. A full-length genomic DNA clone of the protein kinase gene has been isolated and sequence analysis shows that it has significant homologies to cyclic nucleotide-dependent protein kinases. We are examining the molecular interactions between viroid molecules and the protein kinase and are using viral-based vectors to deliver sense and antisense copies of the gene to tomato to examine its role in viroid symptom induction. |
