The RNA of both polarities of the peach latent mosaic viroid self-cleaves in vitro solely by single hammerhead structures

RNA Back and Forth: Looking through Ribozyme and Viroid Motifs

Current cellular facts allow us to follow the link from chemical to biochemical metabolites, from the ancient to the modern world. In this context, the "RNA world" hypothesis proposes that early in the evolution of life, the ribozyme was responsible for the storage and transfer of genetic information and for the catalysis of biochemical reactions. Accordingly, the hammerhead ribozyme (HHR) and the hairpin ribozyme belong to a family of endonucleolytic RNAs performing self-cleavage that might occur during replication. Furthermore, regarding the widespread occurrence of HHRs in several genomes of modern organisms (from mammals to small parasites and elsewhere), these small ribozymes have been regarded as living fossils of a primitive RNA world. They fold into 3D structures that generally require long-range intramolecular interactions to adopt the catalytically active conformation under specific physicochemical conditions. By studying viroids as plausible remains of ancient RNA, we recently demonstrated that they replicate in non-specific hosts, emphasizing their adaptability to different environments, which enhanced their survival probability over the ages. All these results exemplify ubiquitous features of life. Those are the structural and functional versatility of small RNAs, ribozymes, and viroids, as well as their diversity and adaptability to various extreme conditions. All these traits must have originated in early life to generate novel RNA populations.

Molecular biology of viroid-host interactions and disease control strategies

Viroids are single-stranded, covalently closed, circular, highly structured noncoding RNAs that cause disease in several economically important crop plants. They replicate autonomously and move systemically in host plants with the aid of the host machinery. In addition to symptomatic infections, viroids also cause latent infections where there is no visual evidence of infection in the host; however, transfer to a susceptible host can result in devastating disease. While there are non-hosts for viroids, no naturally occurring durable resistance has been observed in most host species. Current effective control methods for viroid diseases include detection and eradication, and cultural controls. In addition, heat or cold therapy combined with meristem tip culture has been shown to be effective for elimination of viroids for some viroid-host combinations. An understanding of viroid-host interactions, host susceptibility, and non-host resistance could provide guidance for the design of viroid-resistant plants. Efforts to engineer viroid resistance into host species have been underway for several years, and include the use of antisense RNA, antisense RNA plus ribozymes, a dsRNase, and siRNAs, among others. The results of those efforts and the challenges associated with creating viroid resistant plants are summarized in this review.

Structural analyses of Avocado sunblotch viroid reveal differences in the folding of plus and minus RNA strands

Viroids are small pathogenic circular single-stranded RNAs, present in two complementary sequences, named plus and minus, in infected plant cells. A high degree of complementarities between different regions of the RNAs allows them to adopt complex structures. Since viroids are naked non-coding RNAs, interactions with host factors appear to be closely related to their structural and catalytic characteristics. Avocado sunblotch viroid (ASBVd), a member of the family Avsunviroidae, replicates via a symmetric RNA-dependant rolling-circle process, involving self-cleavage via hammerhead ribozymes. Consequently, it is assumed that ASBVd plus and minus strands adopt similar structures. Moreover, by computer analyses, a quasi-rod-like secondary structure has been predicted. Nevertheless, secondary and tertiary structures of both polarities of ASBVd remain unsolved. In this study, we analyzed the characteristic of each strand of ASBVd through biophysical analyses. We report that ASBVd transcripts of plus and minus polarities exhibit differences in electrophoretic mobility under native conditions and in thermal denaturation profiles. Subsequently, the secondary structures of plus and minus polarities of ASBVd were probed using the RNA-selective 2'-hydroxyl acylation analyzed by primer extension (SHAPE) method. The models obtained show that both polarities fold into different structures. Moreover, our results suggest the existence of a kissing-loop interaction within the minus strand that may play a role in in vivo viroid life cycle.

Exploring mRNA 3'-UTR G-quadruplexes: evidence of roles in both alternative polyadenylation and mRNA shortening

Guanine-rich RNA sequences can fold into non-canonical, four stranded helical structures called G-quadruplexes that have been shown to be widely distributed within the mammalian transcriptome, as well as being key regulatory elements in various biological mechanisms. That said, their role within the 3'-untranslated region (UTR) of mRNA remains to be elucidated and appreciated. A bioinformatic analysis of the 3'-UTRs of mRNAs revealed enrichment in G-quadruplexes. To shed light on the role(s) of these structures, those found in the LRP5 and FXR1 genes were characterized both in vitro and in cellulo. The 3'-UTR G-quadruplexes were found to increase the efficiencies of alternative polyadenylation sites, leading to the expression of shorter transcripts and to possess the ability to interfere with the miRNA regulatory network of a specific mRNA. Clearly, G-quadruplexes located in the 3'-UTRs of mRNAs are cis-regulatory elements that have a significant impact on gene expression.

The use of a combination of computer-assisted structure prediction and SHAPE probing to elucidate the secondary structures of five viroids

The elucidation of the structures of viroids, noncoding infectious RNA species, is paramount to obtain an understanding of the various aspects of their life cycles (including replication, transport and pathogenesis). In general, the secondary structures of viroids have been predicted using computer software programs which have been shown to possess several important limitations. Clearly, the predicted structure of a viroid needs to receive physical support prior to its use in the accurate interpretation of any mechanistic studies. Here, SHAPE probing coupled to computer-assisted structure prediction using the RNAstructure software program was employed to determine the structures of five viroids. These species belong to four genera of the Pospiviroidae family, and none have had their structure characterized in solution. In addition, several interesting questions were addressed by either studying various sequence variants or varying the SHAPE conditions. More importantly, this approach is novel in the study of viroids, and should be of significant aid in the determination of the structures of other RNA species.

The RNA strands of the plus and minus polarities of peach latent mosaic viroid fold into different structures

It is believed that peach latent mosaic viroid (PLMVd) strands of both the plus and minus polarities fold into similar secondary and tertiary structures. In order to verify this hypothesis, the behavior of both strands in three biophysical assays was examined. PLMVd transcripts of plus and minus polarity were found to exhibit distinct electrophoretic mobility properties under native conditions, to precipitate differently in the presence of lithium chloride, and to possess variable thermal denaturation profiles. Subsequently, the structure of PLMVd transcripts of minus polarity was elucidated by biochemical methods, thereby permitting comparison to the known structure of the plus polarity. Specifically, enzymatic probing, electrophoretic mobility shift assay, and ribonuclease H hydrolysis were performed in order to resolve the secondary structure of the minus polarity. The left domains of the strands of both polarities appear to be similar, while the right domain exhibited several differences even though they both adopted a branched structure. The pseudoknot P8 formed in the plus strand seemed not formed in the minus strands. The structural differences between the two polarities might have important implications in various steps of the PLMVd life cycle.

The peach latent mosaic viroid replication initiation site is located at a universal position that appears to be defined by a conserved sequence

Viroids replicate through a rolling circle mechanism that is exclusively RNA dependent. In this study, we initially revisited the determination of the replication initiation sites of peach latent mosaic viroid (PLMVd). A universal initiation site for each of the PLMVd polarities (position A50/C51 and U284 for the plus and minus strands, respectively) that is shared by a relatively wide repertoire of viroid variants was identified, in agreement with a previous report based on a different methodology. Subsequently, an in vitro selection procedure based on a model rolling circle replication assay was developed. This latter experiment led to the identification of a highly conserved CAGACG box which is reminiscent of the sequence found in the vicinity of the PLMVd initiation sites. The conserved sequence contributes to delineating the initiation site and provides an explanation for the presence of a specific universal initiation site on the PLMVd molecule.

A novel approach to the synthesis of DNA and RNA lariats

Current studies of lariat RNA structure and function are hindered by the lack of access to synthetic lariats. A novel approach to the synthesis of both DNA and RNA lariats is presented here. Noteworthy features of the methodology are the regiospecific formation of the 2'-5'-phosphodiester linkage, the unusual parallel stranded DNA/RNA hybrid (or parallel RNA/RNA duplex) that forms between an RNA template and a folded 22-nt DNA (or RNA) substrate, and the efficiency of the chemical ligation step at an adenosine branchpoint (50-80%). The DNA and RNA lariats were purified by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and their structure and nucleotide composition were confirmed by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Thermal denaturation as well as enzymatic and chemical hydrolysis fully supported the proposed lariat structures. Characterization of control parallel duplexes was conducted by gel shift assays and enzymatic degradation with RNase H. The successful synthesis of the lariat molecules described here will allow structural and biochemical studies aimed at better understanding the splicing and debranching mechanisms in which these unusual nucleic acids are involved.

A modern mode of activation for nucleic acid enzymes

Through evolution, enzymes have developed subtle modes of activation in order to ensure the sufficiently high substrate specificity required by modern cellular metabolism. One of these modes is the use of a target-dependent module (i.e. a docking domain) such as those found in signalling kinases. Upon the binding of the target to a docking domain, the substrate is positioned within the catalytic site. The prodomain acts as a target-dependent module switching the kinase from an off state to an on state. As compared to the allosteric mode of activation, there is no need for the presence of a third partner. None of the ribozymes discovered to date have such a mode of activation, nor does any other known RNA. Starting from a specific on/off adaptor for the hepatitis delta virus ribozyme, that differs but has a mechanism reminiscent of this signalling kinase, we have adapted this mode of activation, using the techniques of molecular engineering, to both catalytic RNAs and DNAs exhibiting various activities. Specifically, we adapted three cleaving ribozymes (hepatitis delta virus, hammerhead and hairpin ribozymes), a cleaving 10-23 deoxyribozyme, a ligating hairpin ribozyme and an artificially selected capping ribozyme. In each case, there was a significant gain in terms of substrate specificity. Even if this mode of control is unreported for natural catalytic nucleic acids, its use needs not be limited to proteinous enzymes. We suggest that the complexity of the modern cellular metabolism might have been an important selective pressure in this evolutionary process.

Viroid: a useful model for studying the basic principles of infection and RNA biology

Viroids are small, circular, noncoding RNAs that currently are known to infect only plants. They also are the smallest self-replicating genetic units known. Without encoding proteins and requirement for helper viruses, these small RNAs contain all the information necessary to mediate intracellular trafficking and localization, replication, systemic trafficking, and pathogenicity. All or most of these functions likely result from direct interactions between distinct viroid RNA structural motifs and their cognate cellular factors. In this review, we discuss current knowledge of these RNA motifs and cellular factors. An emerging theme is that the structural simplicity, functional versatility, and experimental tractability of viroid RNAs make viroid-host interactions an excellent model to investigate the basic principles of infection and further the general mechanisms of RNA-templated replication, intracellular and intercellular RNA trafficking, and RNA-based regulation of gene expression. We anticipate that significant advances in understanding viroid-host interactions will be achieved through multifaceted secondary and tertiary RNA structural analyses in conjunction with genetic, biochemical, cellular, and molecular tools to characterize the RNA motifs and cellular factors associated with the processes leading to systemic infection.

Molecular features of new Peach Latent Mosaic Viroid variants suggest that recombination may have contributed to the evolution of this infectious RNA

Nucleotide sequences of a broad range of Peach Latent Mosaic Viroid (PLMVd) variants were determined. The variants were isolated from peach, pear, and almond tree samples collected in Tunisia. Sequence analysis confirmed the high variability of PLMVd, as no less than 119 new variants were identified. Variations included new polymorphic positions, insertions of 11 to 14 nucleotides, and new mutations within the hammerhead self-cleavage motifs. We provide the first covariation-based evidence for certain stems within the proposed secondary structure. Our covariation analysis also strengthens the view that a pseudoknot closes the replication domain. On the basis of phylogenetic tree studies and informative positions, PLMVd variants are proposed to cluster into groups and subgroups likely to have resulted from recombination events. PLMVd thus emerges as a suitable viroid for retracing the evolution of an RNA genome.

Peach latent mosaic viroid: not so latent

SUMMARY Taxonomy: Peach latent mosaic viroid (PLMVd) is the type species of the genus Pelamoviroid within the family Avsunviroidae of chloroplastic viroids with hammerhead ribozymes. Physical properties: A small circular RNA of 336-351 nt (differences in size result from the absence or presence of certain insertions) adopting a branched conformation stabilized by a pseudoknot between two kissing loops. This particular conformation is most likely responsible for the insolubility of PLMVd in highly saline conditions (in which other viroids adopting a rod-like conformation are soluble). Both polarity strands are able to form hammerhead structures and to self-cleave during replication as predicted by these ribozymes. Biological properties: Although most infections occur without conspicuous symptoms, certain PLMVd isolates induce leaf mosaics, blotches and in the most extreme cases albinism (peach calico, PC), flower streaking, delays in foliation, flowering and ripening, deformations and decolorations of fruits, which usually present cracked sutures and enlarged roundish stones, bud necrosis, stem pitting and premature ageing of the trees, which also adopt a characteristic growing pattern (open habit). The molecular determinant for PC has been mapped at a 12-14-nt insertion that folds into a hairpin capped by a U-rich loop present only in certain variants. PLMVd is horizontally transmitted by the propagation of infected buds and to a lesser extent by pruning tools and aphids, but not by pollen; the viroid is not vertically transmitted through seed. Interesting features: This provides a suitable system for studying how a minimal non-protein-coding catalytic RNA replicates (subverting a DNA-dependent RNA polymerase to transcribe an RNA template), moves, interferes with the metabolism of its host (inciting specific symptoms and a defensive RNA silencing response) and evolves following a quasi-species model characterized by a complex spectrum of variants.

A short double-stranded RNA motif of Peach latent mosaic viroid contains the initiation and the self-cleavage sites of both polarity strands

The transcription initiation sites of viroid RNAs, despite their relevance for replication and in vivo folding, are poorly characterized. Here we have examined this question for Peach latent mosaic viroid (PLMVd), which belongs to the family of chloroplastic viroids with hammerhead ribozymes (Avsunviroidae), by adapting an RNA ligase-mediated rapid amplification of cDNA ends methodology developed for mapping the genuine capped 5' termini of eukaryotic messenger RNAs. To this aim, the characteristic free 5'-triphosphate group of chloroplastic primary transcripts from PLMVd-infected young fruits was previously capped in vitro with GTP and guanylyltransferase. PLMVd plus and minus initiation sites map at similar double-stranded motifs of 6 to 7 bp that also contain the conserved GUC triplet preceding the self-cleavage site in both polarity strands. Within the branched secondary structures predicted for the two PLMVd strands, this motif is located at the base of a similar long hairpin that presumably contains the promoters for a chloroplastic RNA polymerase. The transcription templates could be the circular viroid RNAs or their most abundant linear counterparts, assuming the involvement of an RNA polymerase able to jump over template discontinuities. Both PLMVd initiation sites were confirmed by applying the same methodology to two purified PLMVd subgenomic RNAs and by primer extension, and they therefore likely reflect the in vivo situation. The location of the PLMVd initiation sites provides a mechanistic view into how the nascent strands may fold and self-cleave during transcription. The approach described here may be extended to other chloroplastic RNA replicons and transcripts accumulating at low levels.

Identification of a peach latent mosaic viroid hairpin able to act as a Dicer-like substrate

The ability of several viroids to induce posttranscriptional gene silencing has been demonstrated; however, the structure recognized by the Dicer enzyme(s) responsible for the initiation of this mechanism remains a mystery. Here, we show that the hairpin known to be implicated in the replication of peach latent mosaic viroid has the ability to trigger the Dicer enzyme(s). This domain, which is composed of a succession of several small stems separated by symmetrical bulges, is reminiscent of the precursor micro-RNAs.

Peripheral regions of natural hammerhead ribozymes greatly increase their self-cleavage activity

Natural hammerhead ribozymes are mostly found in some viroid and viroid-like RNAs and catalyze their cis cleavage during replication. Hammerheads have been manipulated to act in trans and assumed to have a similar catalytic behavior in this artificial context. However, we show here that two natural cis-acting hammerheads self-cleave much faster than trans-acting derivatives and other reported artificial hammerheads. Moreover, modifications of the peripheral loops 1 and 2 of one of these natural hammerheads induced a >100-fold reduction of the self-cleavage constant, whereas engineering a trans-acting artificial hammerhead into a cis derivative by introducing a loop 1 had no effect. These data show that regions external to the central conserved core of natural hammerheads play a role in catalysis, and suggest the existence of tertiary interactions between these peripheral regions. The interactions, determined by the sequence and size of loops 1 and 2 and most likely of helices I and II, must result from natural selection and should be studied in order to better understand the hammerhead requirements in vivo.

Delta ribozyme benefits from a good stability in vitro that becomes outstanding in vivo

The stability of a trans-acting delta ribozyme was studied under various conditions. Although in vitro (i.e., in the presence of protein extracts) this delta ribozyme appears to be only slightly more stable than a hammerhead ribozyme, in vivo (i.e., after cell transfection) it exhibits an outstanding stability that manifests itself in the calculated half-life of over 100 h regardless of the means of transfection. The P2 stem, which includes both the 5' and 3' ends, is shown to play a critical role in this stability. Direct mutagenesis of the most nuclease susceptible nucleotides failed to generate a more stable ribozyme that retained the same catalytic potential. Clearly, delta ribozyme appears to be well adapted to the human cell environment, and is therefore ideal for the development of a gene-inactivation system.

Natural 2',5'-phosphodiester bonds found at the ligation sites of peach latent mosaic viroid

Peach latent mosaic viroid (PLMVd) is a circular RNA pathogen that replicates in a DNA-independent fashion via a rolling circle mechanism. PLMVd has been shown to self-ligate in vitro primarily via the formation of 2',5'-phosphodiester bonds; however, in vivo the occurrence and necessity of this nonenzymatic mechanism are not evident. Here, we unequivocally report the presence of 2', 5'-phosphodiester bonds at the ligation site of circular PLMVd strands isolated from infected peach leaves. These bonds serve to close the linear conformers (i.e., intermediates), yielding circular ones. Furthermore, these bonds are shown to stabilize the replicational circular templates, resulting in a significant advantage in terms of viroid viability. Although the mechanism responsible for the formation of these 2',5'-phosphodiester bonds remains to be elucidated, a hypothesis describing in vivo nonenzymatic self-ligation is proposed. Most significantly, our results clearly show that 2',5'-phosphodiester bonds are still present in nature and that they are of biological importance.

Hammerhead-mediated processing of satellite pDo500 family transcripts from Dolichopoda cave crickets

This work reports the discovery and functional characterization of catalytically active hammerhead motifs within satellite DNA of the pDo500 family from several DOLICHOPODA: cave cricket species. We show that in vitro transcribed RNA of some members of this satellite DNA family do self-cleave in vitro. This self-cleavage activity is correlated with the efficient in vivo processing of long primary transcripts into monomer-sized RNA. The high sequence conservation of the satellite pDo500 DNA family among genetically isolated DOLICHOPODA: schiavazzii populations, as well as other DOLICHOPODA: species, along with the fact that satellite members are actively transcribed in vivo suggests that the hammerhead-encoding satellite transcripts are under selective pressure, perhaps because they fulfil an important physiological role or function. Remarkably, this is the third example of hammerhead ribozyme structures associated with transcribed repetitive DNA sequences from animals. The possibility that such an association may not be purely coincidental is discussed.

Sequencing of peach latent mosaic viroid variants from nine North American peach cultivars shows that this RNA folds into a complex secondary structure

We sequenced 34 new peach latent mosaic viroid (PLMVd) variants isolated from nine different peach cultivars. This study provides the widest view of PLMVd diversity reported to date and includes the original characterization of North American variants, which cannot be differentiated from European sequences. PLMVd appears as a species in which each isolate is a complex mixture of RNAs. Analysis of base-pair covariations supports the hypothesis that PLMVd folds into a complex branched structure with the potential of including three new pseudoknots. The resulting "globular-like" structure is in contrast to the rod-like one adopted by most other viroids.

Therapeutic potential of ribozymes in haematological disorders

Ribozymes are RNA molecules that possess the ability to cleave and thus destroy other RNA molecules. As a result of this ability, they are ideal specific agents to use against the messenger RNAs of important genes found to be linked with disease (of cellular and viral origin). This review will briefly describe the different types of ribozyme and the potential they have as therapeutic compounds against viruses, oncogenes and drug resistance in haematological settings. The latest news from the various Phase I and II ribozyme clinical trials is discussed, as is the potential for the ribozymes' future as therapeutic agents.

Mapping in solution shows the peach latent mosaic viroid to possess a new pseudoknot in a complex, branched secondary structure

We have investigated the secondary structure of peach latent mosaic viroid (PLMVd) in solution, and we present here the first description of the structure of a branched viroid in solution. Different PLMVd transcripts of plus polarity were produced by using the circularly permuted RNA method and the exploitation of RNA internal secondary structure to position the 5' and 3' termini and studied by nuclease mapping and binding shift assays using DNA and RNA oligonucleotides. We show that PLMVd folds into a complex, branched secondary structure. In general, this structure is similar to that reported previously, which was based on sequence comparison and computer modelling. The structural microheterogeneity is apparently limited to only some small domains. More importantly, this structure includes a novel pseudoknot that is conserved in all PLMVd isolates and seems to allow folding into a very compact form. This pseudoknot is also found in chrysanthemum chlorotic mottle viroid, suggesting that it is a unique feature of the viroid members of the PLMVd subgroup.

Avsunviroidae family: viroids containing hammerhead ribozymes

This chapter focuses on the second viroid family, whose members are also referred to as hammerhead viroids, taking into account their most outstanding feature. If the word “small” is the first to come to mind when considering viroids, perhaps the second word is “hammerhead,” because this class of ribozymes, which because of its structural simplicity has an enormous biotechnological potential, is described in avocado sunblotch viroid (ASBVd) as well as in a viroid-like satellite RNA. The most outstanding feature of the Avsunviroidae members is their potential to adopt hammerhead structures in both polarity strands and to self-cleave in vitro accordingly. Viroids differ from viruses not only in their genome size but also in other fundamental aspects, prominent among which is the lack of messenger activity of both viroid RNAs and their complementary strands.

Subcellular localization and rolling circle replication of peach latent mosaic viroid: hallmarks of group A viroids

We characterized the peach latent mosaic viroid (PLMVd) replication intermediates that accumulate in infected peach leaves and determined the tissue and subcellular localization of the RNA species. Using in situ hybridization, we showed that PLMVd strands of both plus and minus polarities concentrate in the cells forming the palisade parenchyma. At the cellular level, PLMVd was found to accumulate predominantly in chloroplasts. Northern blot analyses demonstrated that PLMVd replicates via a symmetric mode involving the accumulation of both circular and linear monomeric strands of both polarities. No multimeric conformer was detected, indicating that both strands self-cleave efficiently via their hammerhead sequences. Dot blot hybridizations revealed that PLMVd strands of both polarities accumulate equally but that the relative concentrations vary by more than 50-fold between peach cultivars. Taken together these results establish two hallmarks for the classification of viroids. Group A viroids (e.g., PLMVd), which possess hammerhead structures, replicate in the chloroplasts via the symmetric mode. By contrast, group B viroids, which share a conserved central region, replicate in the nucleus via an asymmetric mechanism. This is an important difference between self-cleaving and non-self-cleaving viroids, and the implications for the evolutionary origin and replication are discussed.

Kinetic analysis of delta ribozyme cleavage

The ability of delta ribozyme to catalyze the cleavage of an 11-mer RNA substrate was examined under both single- and multiple-turnover conditions. In both cases only small differences in the kinetic parameters were observed in the presence of either magnesium or calcium as cofactor. Under multiple-turnover conditions, the catalytic efficiency of the ribozyme (kcat/KM) was higher at 37 degreesC than at 56 degreesC. The cleavage reaction seems to be limited by the product release step at 37 degreesC and by the chemical cleavage step at 56 degreesC. We observed substrate inhibition at high concentrations of the 11-mer substrate. Cleavage rate constants were determined with a structural derivative characterized by an ultrastable L4 tetraloop. The kinetic parameters (kcat and KM) and dissociation constant (Kd) were almost identical for both ribozymes, suggesting that the stability of the L4 loop has a negligible impact on the catalytic activities of the examined ribozymes. Various cleavage inhibition and gel-shift assays with analogues, substrate, and both active and inactive ribozymes were performed. The 2'-hydroxyl group adjacent to the scissile phosphate was shown to be involved in binding with the ribozyme, while the essential cytosine residue of the J4/2 junction was shown to contribute to substrate association. We clearly show that substrate binding to the delta ribozyme is not restricted to the formation of a helix located downstream of the cleavage site. Using these results, we postulate a kinetic pathway involving a conformational transition step essential for the formation of the active ribozyme/substrate complex.

In vitro and in vivo self-cleavage of a viroid RNA with a mutation in the hammerhead catalytic pocket

Peach latent mosaic viroid (PLMVd) can adopt hammerhead structures in both polarity strands. In the course of a study on the variability of this viroid a natural sequence variant has been characterized in which the hammerhead structure of the plus polarity strand has the sequence CCGA instead of the conserved uridine turn motif CUGA present in the catalytic pocket of all natural hammerhead structures. The viroid RNA containing this mutant hammerhead structure, but not those with the two other possible substitutions, U-->A and U-->G, in the same position of the catalytic pocket, showed significant self-cleavage activity during in vitro transcription. Moreover, the corresponding full-length PLMVd cDNA was infectious and the mutation was retained in a fraction of the viroid progeny. These results indicate that the sequence flexibility of the hammerhead structure, acting in vitro and in vivo , is higher than anticipated and provide relevant data for a deeper insight into the catalytic mechanism of this class of ribozymes and into the structure of the uridine turn motif.

The Therapeutic Potential of Ribozymes

Ribozymes are catalytic RNA molecules that recognize their target RNA in a highly sequence-specific manner. They can therefore be used to inhibit deleterious gene expression (by cleavage of the target mRNA) or even repair mutant cellular RNAs. Targets such as the mRNAs of oncogenes (resulting from base mutations or chromosome translocations, eg, ras or bcr-abl) and viral genomes and transcripts (human immunodeficiency virus–type 1 [HIV-1]) are ideal targets for such sequence-specific agents. The aim of this review is therefore to introduce the different classes of ribozymes, highlighting some of the chemistry of the reactions they catalyze, to address the specific inhibition of genes by ribozymes, the problems yet to be resolved, and how new developments in the field give hope to the future for ribozymes in the therapeutic field.

The Therapeutic Potential of Ribozymes

Ribozymes are catalytic RNA molecules that recognize their target RNA in a highly sequence-specific manner. They can therefore be used to inhibit deleterious gene expression (by cleavage of the target mRNA) or even repair mutant cellular RNAs. Targets such as the mRNAs of oncogenes (resulting from base mutations or chromosome translocations, eg, ras or bcr-abl) and viral genomes and transcripts (human immunodeficiency virus–type 1 [HIV-1]) are ideal targets for such sequence-specific agents. The aim of this review is therefore to introduce the different classes of ribozymes, highlighting some of the chemistry of the reactions they catalyze, to address the specific inhibition of genes by ribozymes, the problems yet to be resolved, and how new developments in the field give hope to the future for ribozymes in the therapeutic field.

Peach latent mosaic viroid is locked by a 2',5'-phosphodiester bond produced by in vitro self-ligation

Although some viroid-like satellite RNAs possess self-cleavage and self-ligation activities, we show that the peach latent mosaic viroid (PLMVd) is unique among all known viroids since it also has such activities. These catalytic activities should have important roles in the rolling circle replication of PLMVd. According to this proposed mechanism, self-cleavage of the multimeric strands occurs via hammerhead structures producing monomers possessing 2',3'-cyclic phosphate and 5'-hydroxyl termini. In the most stable predicted secondary structure for PLMVd these two extremities are juxtaposed, in order for self-ligation to occur. To establish the nature of the phosphodiester bond produced by self-ligation, we followed the classical procedure of complete enzymatic RNA hydrolysis coupled with thin layer chromatography fractionation. Using this procedure, we report that the self-ligation of PLMVd transcripts produces almost exclusively the 2',5' isomer (>96%). Primer extension assays also revealed that reverse transcriptase can read througth this 2', 5' linkage, suggesting that it does not prevent further replication of the viroid. Moreover, we have observed that this 2',5' linkage is resistant to the debranching activity contained in nuclear extracts, as well as being capable of preventing further viroid self-cleavage. Thus, if viroids do indeed self-ligate in vivo, the resulting 2', 5'-phosphodiester bond could contribute to the stability of these RNA species. Finally, an analysis of both the sequence and the structural requirements for hammerhead self-cleavage and self-ligation suggests that these two RNA processes may be interrelated. We hypothesize that the intramolecular self-ligation which produces circular conformers may contribute to the circularization step of the rolling circle replication, while the intermolecular non-enzymatic ligation is a potential mechanism for the sequence reassortment of viroids and viroid-like species.

Chrysanthemum chlorotic mottle viroid: unusual structural properties of a subgroup of self-cleaving viroids with hammerhead ribozymes

The causal agent of chrysanthemum chlorotic mottle (CChM) disease has been identified, cloned, and sequenced. It is a viroid RNA (CChMVd) of 398-399 nucleotides. In vitro transcripts with the complete CChMVd sequence were infectious and induced the typical symptoms of the CChM disease. CChMVd can form hammerhead structures in both polarity strands. Plus and minus monomeric CChMVd RNAs self-cleaved during in vitro transcription and after purification as predicted by these structures, which are stable and most probably act as single hammerhead structures as in peach latent mosaic viroid (PLMVd), but not in avocado sunblotch viroid (ASBVd). Moreover, the plus CChMVd hammerhead structure also appears to be active in vivo, because the 5' terminus of the linear plus CChMVd RNA isolated from infected tissue is that predicted by the corresponding hammerhead ribozyme. Both hammerhead structures of CChMVd display some peculiarities: the plus self-cleaving domain has an unpaired A after the conserved A9 residue, and the minus one has an unusually long helix II. The most stable secondary structure predicted for CChMVd is a branched conformation that does not fulfill the rod-like or quasi-rod-like model proposed for the in vitro structure of most viroids with the exception of PLMVd, whose proposed secondary structure of lowest free energy also is branched. The unusual conformation of CChMVd and PLMVd is supported by their insolubility in 2 M LiCl, in contrast to ASBVd and a series of representative non-self-cleaving viroids that are soluble under the same high salt conditions. These results support the classification of self-cleaving viroids into two subgroups, one formed by ASBVd and the other one by PLMVd and CChMVd.

Characterization of stable RNAs from the resected intestinal tissues of individuals with either Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis

Circular RNAs reminiscent of viroids and the human hepatitis delta virus have been proposed as possible nonconventional pathogens responsible for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, two inflammatory bowel diseases. Consequently, RNA was extracted from various areas of intestinal tissues from individuals with either Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis as well as several appropriate control diseases, and analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. No circular viroid-like RNAs (< 1500 nucleotides) were detected, confirming a previous report that was limited to the investigation of small RNAs (< 300 nucleotides). However, three small, unusually stable, linear RNAs were shown to be associated to both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis tissues: a specific 28S ribosomal RNA cleavage product characterized previously; a 5.8S ribosomal RNA conformer; and a fragment homologous to transcripts from DNA CpG islands. The two last RNAs were detected prior to visible morphological tissue alterations, suggesting that they are produced early during the inflammation and that they have value as molecular diagnostic tools for the inflammatory bowel diseases. The potential cellular mechanisms producing these RNAs and their involvement in inflammatory bowel disease are discussed.

Compilation and analysis of viroid and viroid-like RNA sequences

We have created a catalogue comprising all viroid and viroid-like RNA sequences which to our knowledge have been either published or were available from on-line sequence libraries as of October 1, 1995. In the development of this catalogue nomenclature ambiguities were removed, the likely ancestral sequence of most species was determined and the most stable secondary structures of these sequences were predicted using the MulFold package. Only viroids of PSTVd-type possessed a rod-like secondary structure, while most other viroids adopted branched secondary structures. Several viroids have predicted secondary structures that include either a Y or cruciform structure reminiscent of the tRNA-like end of virus genomes at an extremity. However, it remains unknown whether or not these predicted structures are adopted in solution, and if they serve a particular function in vivo. Additional information such as the position of the self-catalytic domains are included in the catalogue. An analysis of the data compilated in the catalogue is included. The catalogue will be available on the world wide web (http://www.callistro.si.usherb.ca/jpperra), on computer disk and in printed form. It should provide an excellent reference point for further studies.

Facilitator oligonucleotides increase ribozyme RNA binding to full-length RNA substrates in vitro

Primer extension arrest (PEA) studies have demonstrated that antisense oligonucleotides (beta 112C, beta 114C), which lie upstream of a ribozyme targeted to beta-amyloid peptide precursor (beta APP) mRNA, but not sense oligonucleotides (beta 112S, beta 116S) or a scrambled oligonucleotide, beta 116 M, affect ribozyme-mediated cleavage in vitro. Substrate dissociation experiments revealed that the ribozyme binding site in this mRNA was masked; PEA kinetics showed the association of the ribozyme and substrate was enhanced by antisense oligonucleotide binding. These studies suggest that masked ribozyme cleavage sites that may occur in disease-causing mRNAs can be targeted for degradation using "facilitator" oligonucleotides.

An efficient strategy for the synthesis of circular RNA molecules

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