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Tertiary structural and functional analyses of RNA motifs that mediate viroid replication and systemic trafficking

Zhong, Xuehua
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1194540856

Abstract Details

2007, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Plant Biology.
RNA replication and systemic trafficking play significant roles in development and host-pathogen interactions. Viroids, the simplest noncoding eukaryotic RNA pathogens and genetic units that are capable of autonomous replication and systemic trafficking, offer excellent models to investigate the role of RNA structures in these processes. First, I investigated the tertiary structure and function of Potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) loop E motif. A tertiary-structural model of the loop E motif is inferred by comparative sequence analysis and comparison with known structures of the loop E motifs in other RNAs. Functional analyses of loop E disruptive and compensatory mutants demonstrated a crucial role of loop E in replication. Second, I identified a RNA motif required for PSTVd traffic from nonvascular into the vascular tissue. This motif consists of nucleotides U/C that form a water-inserted cis Watson-Crick/Watson-Crick basepair flanked by short helices. This tertiary structural model was inferred by comparison with similar motifs in rRNAs and is supported by combined mutagenesis and covariation analyses. Hydration pattern analysis suggests that water insertion induces a widened minor groove conducive to protein and/or RNA interactions. Finally, I identified multiple and distinct motifs important for PSTVd replication and trafficking. My results may guide further studies on the tertiary structure and functional mechanisms of each motif. All together, my findings demonstrate that a combination of tertiary structural and functional analyses can provide a foundation to elucidate RNA structure-function relationship and to address how sophisticated features of RNA structures have evolved to achieve optimal functions.
Biao Ding (Advisor)
137 p.
Biology, Molecular
Viroid; RNA motif; Tertiary structure; Replication; Systemic trafficking

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Zhong, X. (2007). Tertiary structural and functional analyses of RNA motifs that mediate viroid replication and systemic trafficking [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1194540856

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Zhong, Xuehua. Tertiary structural and functional analyses of RNA motifs that mediate viroid replication and systemic trafficking. 2007. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1194540856.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Zhong, Xuehua. "Tertiary structural and functional analyses of RNA motifs that mediate viroid replication and systemic trafficking." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2007. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1194540856

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1194540856
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© 2007, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.