ARS | Publication request: Presence of a polyA tail at the 3’-end of Maize rayado fino virus RNA

Submitted to: Archives of Virology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: November 9, 2010
Publication Date: January 1, 2011
Citation: Edwards, M.C., Weiland, J.J. 2011. Presence of a polyA tail at the 3’-end of Maize rayado fino virus RNA. Archives of Virology. 156:331–334.

Interpretive Summary: Viruses are classified into genus and species just as are higher organisms. The genus Marafivirus is named for Maize rayado fino virus (MRFV), the type member of the genus. For many years now, MRFV has been considered different than other viruses of the same genus in a key characteristic of its genome structure. That is, MRFV has been thought to lack a series of adenine nucleotides, known as a poly(A) tail, at the end of the RNA molecule that constitutes its genome, while all other members of the genus are known to have a poly(A) tail. This research used two different approaches to demonstrate that MRFV does indeed have a poly(A) tail. This discovery resolves a taxonomic and biological anomaly within this genus and may facilitate discovery and characterization of additional marafiviruses.

Technical Abstract: Maize rayado fino virus (MRFV) is the type member of the genus Marafivirus in the family Tymoviridae, yet is distinct from other members of the genus in that its genome reportedly lacks a poly(A) tail at the 3’-terminus. Using naïve and targeted PCR-based approaches, we now show that the MRFV genome is indeed polyadenylated. The discovery resolves a taxonomic and biological anomaly within this genus and may facilitate discovery and characterization of additional marafiviruses.