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Science 31 August 1979:
Vol. 205. no. 4409, pp. 859 - 866
DOI: 10.1126/science.472709
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Articles

Science, Vol 205, Issue 4409, 859-866
Copyright © 1979 by American Association for the Advancement of Science

articles

Viroids: structure and function

TO Diener

Viroids are nucleic acid species of relatively low molecular weight and unique structure that cause several important diseases of cultivated plants. Similar nucleic acid species may be responsible for certain diseases of animals and humans. Viroids are the smallest known agents of infectious disease. Unlike viral nucleic acids, viroids are not encapsidated. Despite their small size, viroids replicate autonomously in cells of susceptible plant species. Known viroids are single-stranded, covalently closed circular, as well as linear, RNA molecules with extensive regions of intramolecular complementarity; they exist in their native state as highly base-paired rods.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Cell-Free Circularization of Viroid Progeny RNA by an RNA Ligase from Wheat Germ.
A. D. BRANCH, H. D. ROBERTSON, C. GREER, P. GEGENHEIMER, C. PEEBLES, and J. ABELSON (1982)
Science 217, 1147-1149
   Abstract »    PDF »
Sensitive and Rapid Diagnosis of Potato Spindle Tuber Viroid Disease by Nucleic Acid Hybridization.
R. A. OWENS and T. O. DIENER (1981)
Science 213, 670-672
   Abstract »    PDF »


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