SEQUENCE-ANALYSIS OF CYMBIDIUM RINGSPOT VIRUS SATELLITE AND DEFECTIVE INTERFERING RNAS

The nucleotide sequences of cloned cDNA copies of satellite and defective interfering (DI) RNAs of cymbidium ringspot virus were determined. DI RNA is 499 nucleotides long and is composed of six stretches of sequence derived from CyRSV genomic RNA. Four of these stretches share common 5' sequences and the 5' and 3' ends are identical to those of genome RNA. Satellite RNA is 621 nucleotides long. In some regions the sequence is very similar (60% to 100% identical) to genomic RNA. A consensus sequence is proposed to be involved in the replication of genomic, DI and satellite RNAs.