The Pospiviroidae are a ''

incertae sedis or is a term used for a taxonomy (biology), taxonomic group where its broader relationships are unknown or undefined. Alternatively, such groups are frequently referred to as "enigmatic taxa". In the system of open nomenclature, uncertainty ...

'' family of ssRNA

viroid Viroids are small single-stranded, circular RNAs that are infectious pathogens. Unlike viruses, they have no protein coating. All known viroids are inhabitants of angiosperms (flowering plants), and most cause diseases, whose respective eco ...

s with 5

genera Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family as used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In binomial nomenclature, the genus name forms the first part of the binomial s ...

and 39

species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

, including the first viroid to be discovered,

PSTVd The potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd, ''Pospiviroid fusituberis'') was the first viroid to be identified.

, which is part of genus

Pospiviroid ''Pospiviroid'' is a genus of ssRNA viroids that infects plants, most commonly tubers. It belongs to the family ''Pospiviroidae The Pospiviroidae are a ''incertae sedis'' family of ssRNA viroids with 5 genera and 39 species, including the firs ...

. Their secondary structure is key to their

biological activity In pharmacology, biological activity or pharmacological activity describes the beneficial or adverse effects of a drug on living matter. When a drug is a complex chemical mixture, this activity is exerted by the substance's active ingredient or ...

. The classification of this family is based on differences in the conserved central region sequence. ''Pospiviroidae'' replication occurs in an asymmetric fashion via host cell

RNA polymerase In molecular biology, RNA polymerase (abbreviated RNAP or RNApol), or more specifically DNA-directed/dependent RNA polymerase (DdRP), is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reactions that synthesize RNA from a DNA template. Using the e ...

RNase Ribonuclease (commonly abbreviated RNase) is a type of nuclease that catalyzes the degradation of RNA into smaller components. Ribonucleases can be divided into endoribonucleases and exoribonucleases, and comprise several sub-classes within the ...

, and

RNA ligase In enzymology, an RNA ligase (ATP) () is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction ''ATP + (ribonucleotide)n + (ribonucleotide)m \rightleftharpoons AMP + diphosphate + (ribonucleotide)n+m''. Their three substrates are ATP, (ribonucleotide)n ...

. Its hosts are

plants Plants are the eukaryotes that form the kingdom Plantae; they are predominantly photosynthetic. This means that they obtain their energy from sunlight, using chloroplasts derived from endosymbiosis with cyanobacteria to produce sugars f ...

, specifically

dicotyledon The dicotyledons, also known as dicots (or, more rarely, dicotyls), are one of the two groups into which all the flowering plants (angiosperms) were formerly divided. The name refers to one of the typical characteristics of the group: namely, ...

s and some

monocotyledon Monocotyledons (), commonly referred to as monocots, ( Lilianae '' sensu'' Chase & Reveal) are flowering plants whose seeds contain only one embryonic leaf, or cotyledon. A monocot taxon has been in use for several decades, but with various ranks ...

s. The severity of the infection can vary from no effect to devastating and widespread damage to a population. This can also depend on the virus-host combination.

Genome

Members of the family Pospiviroidae have circular

ssRNA Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is a polymeric molecule that is essential for most biological functions, either by performing the function itself (non-coding RNA) or by forming a template for the production of proteins (messenger RNA). RNA and deoxyrib ...

of 246–375 nt. They assume rod-like or quasi-rod-like conformations containing a central conserved region (CCR) and a terminal conserved hairpin (TCH) or a terminal conserved region (TCR). The genome of viroids does not encode any proteins.

Replication

Its replication is nuclear and mediated by DNA-dependent RNA polymerase II, which is redirected to use RNA templates through an asymmetric RNA–RNA rolling-circle mechanism. (+) polarity circRNA molecules (by convention the most abundant strand ''in vivo'') are repeatedly transcribed into

oligomeric In chemistry and biochemistry, an oligomer () is a molecule that consists of a few repeating units which could be derived, actually or conceptually, from smaller molecules, monomer, monomers.Quote: ''Oligomer molecule: A molecule of intermediate ...

complementary (−) RNAs. Such intermediates serve as templates for generating oligomeric (+) RNAs that are cleaved by a host enzyme of the RNase III class. The termini of the resulting linear

monomers A monomer ( ; ''wikt:mono-, mono-'', "one" + ''wikt:-mer, -mer'', "part") is a molecule that can chemical reaction, react together with other monomer molecules to form a larger polymer chain or two- or three-dimensional network in a process called ...

are ligated by the host DNA ligase 1 to generate the mature circular viroid RNA.

Taxonomy

Apscaviroid Apscaviroid is a genus of ssRNA viroid Viroids are small single-stranded, circular RNAs that are infectious pathogens. Unlike viruses, they have no protein coating. All known viroids are inhabitants of angiosperms (flowering plants), and ...

Apple dimple fruit viroid An apple is a round, edible fruit produced by an apple tree (''Malus'' spp.). Fruit trees of the orchard or domestic apple (''Malus domestica''), the most widely grown in the genus, are cultivated worldwide. The tree originated in Central A ...

Apple scar skin viroid An apple is a round, edible fruit produced by an apple tree (''Malus'' spp.). Fruit trees of the orchard or domestic apple (''Malus domestica''), the most widely grown in the genus, are cultivated worldwide. The tree originated in Central A ...

Apscaviroid aclsvd Apscaviroid is a genus of ssRNA viroid Viroids are small single-stranded, circular RNAs that are infectious pathogens. Unlike viruses, they have no protein coating. All known viroids are inhabitants of angiosperms (flowering plants), and ...

Apscaviroid cvd-VII Apscaviroid is a genus of ssRNA viroid Viroids are small single-stranded, circular RNAs that are infectious pathogens. Unlike viruses, they have no protein coating. All known viroids are inhabitants of angiosperms (flowering plants), and ...

Apscaviroid dvd Apscaviroid is a genus of ssRNA viroid Viroids are small single-stranded, circular RNAs that are infectious pathogens. Unlike viruses, they have no protein coating. All known viroids are inhabitants of angiosperms (flowering plants), and ...

Apscaviroid glvd Apscaviroid is a genus of ssRNA viroids that belongs to the family ''Pospiviroidae The Pospiviroidae are a ''incertae sedis'' family of ssRNA viroids with 5 genera and 39 species, including the first viroid to be discovered, PSTVd, which is p ...

Apscaviroid lvd Apscaviroid is a genus of ssRNA viroids that belongs to the family ''Pospiviroidae The Pospiviroidae are a ''incertae sedis'' family of ssRNA viroids with 5 genera and 39 species, including the first viroid to be discovered, PSTVd, which is p ...

Apscaviroid plvd-I Apscaviroid is a genus of ssRNA viroids that belongs to the family ''Pospiviroidae The Pospiviroidae are a ''incertae sedis'' family of ssRNA viroids with 5 genera and 39 species, including the first viroid to be discovered, PSTVd, which is p ...

Apscaviroid pvd Apscaviroid is a genus of ssRNA viroids that belongs to the family ''Pospiviroidae The Pospiviroidae are a ''incertae sedis'' family of ssRNA viroids with 5 genera and 39 species, including the first viroid to be discovered, PSTVd, which is p ...

Apscaviroid pvd-2 Apscaviroid is a genus of ssRNA viroids that belongs to the family ''Pospiviroidae The Pospiviroidae are a ''incertae sedis'' family of ssRNA viroids with 5 genera and 39 species, including the first viroid to be discovered, PSTVd, which is p ...

* Australian grapevine viroid *

Citrus bent leaf viroid ''Citrus'' is a genus of flowering trees and shrubs in the family Rutaceae. Plants in the genus produce citrus fruits, including important crops such as oranges, mandarins, lemons, grapefruits, pomelos, and limes. ''Citrus'' is native to Sou ...

Citrus dwarfing viroid ''Citrus'' is a genus of flowering trees and shrubs in the family Rutaceae. Plants in the genus produce citrus fruits, including important crops such as oranges, mandarins, lemons, grapefruits, pomelos, and limes. ''Citrus'' is native to Sou ...

Citrus viroid V ''Citrus'' is a genus of flowering trees and shrubs in the family Rutaceae. Plants in the genus produce citrus fruits, including important crops such as oranges, mandarins, lemons, grapefruits, pomelos, and limes. ''Citrus'' is native to Sou ...

Citrus viroid VI ''Citrus'' is a genus of flowering plant, flowering trees and shrubs in the family Rutaceae. Plants in the genus produce citrus fruits, including important crops such as Orange (fruit), oranges, Mandarin orange, mandarins, lemons, grapefruits, ...

Grapevine yellow speckle viroid 1 ''Grapevine yellow speckle viroid 1'' (''Apscaviroid alphaflavivitis'') is a type of viroid that infects grapevine ''Vitis'' (grapevine) is a genus of 81 accepted species of vining plants in the flowering plant family Vitaceae. The genus con ...

Grapevine yellow speckle viroid 2 ''Vitis'' (grapevine) is a genus of 81 accepted species of vining plants in the flowering plant family Vitaceae. The genus consists of species predominantly from the Northern Hemisphere. It is economically important as the source of grapes, bot ...

Pear blister canker viroid Pears are fruits produced and consumed around the world, growing on a tree and harvested in late summer into mid-autumn. The pear tree and shrub are a species of genus ''Pyrus'' , in the family Rosaceae, bearing the pomaceous fruit of the sa ...

Cocadviroid The Pospiviroidae are a ''incertae sedis'' family of ssRNA viroids with 5 genera and 39 species, including the first viroid to be discovered, PSTVd, which is part of genus Pospiviroid. Their secondary structure is key to their biological act ...

Citrus bark cracking viroid ''Citrus'' is a genus of flowering trees and shrubs in the family Rutaceae. Plants in the genus produce citrus fruits, including important crops such as oranges, mandarins, lemons, grapefruits, pomelos, and limes. ''Citrus'' is native to Sou ...

* Coconut cadang-cadang viroid * Coconut tinangaja viroid * Hop latent viroid

Coleviroid The Pospiviroidae are a ''incertae sedis'' family of ssRNA viroids with 5 genera and 39 species, including the first viroid to be discovered, PSTVd, which is part of genus Pospiviroid. Their secondary structure is key to their biological activ ...

Coleus blumei viroid 1 ''Coleus'' (, ) is a genus of annual or perennial herbs or shrubs, sometimes succulent, sometimes with a fleshy or tuberous rootstock, found in the Afro-Eurasia tropics and subtropics. The relationship among the genera ''Coleus'', '' Solenoste ...

Coleus blumei viroid 2 ''Coleus'' (, ) is a genus of annual or perennial herbs or shrubs, sometimes succulent, sometimes with a fleshy or tuberous rootstock, found in the Afro-Eurasia tropics and subtropics. The relationship among the genera ''Coleus'', ''Solenostem ...

* Coleus blumei viroid 3 *

Coleviroid cbvd-5 The Pospiviroidae are a ''incertae sedis'' family of ssRNA viroids with 5 genera and 39 species, including the first viroid to be discovered, PSTVd, which is part of genus Pospiviroid. Their secondary structure is key to their biological activ ...

Coleviroid cbvd-6 The Pospiviroidae are a ''incertae sedis'' family of ssRNA viroids with 5 genera and 39 species, including the first viroid to be discovered, PSTVd, which is part of genus Pospiviroid. Their secondary structure is key to their biological activ ...

Hostuviroid Hostuviroid is a genus of ssRNA viroids that includes '' Hop stunt viroid'', a species of viroids that infects many different types of plants, including the common hop plant. It belongs to the family ''Pospiviroidae The Pospiviroidae are a '' ...

* Dahlia latent viroid *

Hop stunt viroid The hop stunt viroid (abbreviated HSVd, binomial name ''Hostuviroid impedihumuli'') is a viroid species that infects the common hop plant, citrus plants, grapevines, cucumber, and several ''Prunus'' species such as almond, apricot, plum, and pe ...

Chrysanthemum stunt viroid Chrysanthemums ( ), sometimes called mums or chrysanths, are flowering plants in the Asteraceae family. They are native plant, native to East Asia and northeastern Europe. Most species originate from East Asia, and the center of diversity is i ...

Citrus exocortis viroid ''Citrus'' is a genus of flowering trees and shrubs in the family Rutaceae. Plants in the genus produce citrus fruits, including important crops such as oranges, mandarins, lemons, grapefruits, pomelos, and limes. ''Citrus'' is native to Sou ...

* Columnea latent viroid *

Iresine viroid 1 ''Iresine'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Amaranthaceae. It contains 20 to 25 species, all of which are native to the American tropics. The generic name is derived from the Greek word εριος (''erios''), meaning "wooly", referr ...

* Pepper chat fruit viroid *

Pospiviroid plvd ''Pospiviroid'' is a genus of ssRNA viroids that infects plants, most commonly tubers. It belongs to the family ''Pospiviroidae The Pospiviroidae are a ''incertae sedis'' family of ssRNA viroids with 5 genera and 39 species, including the firs ...

Potato spindle tuber viroid The potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd, ''Pospiviroid fusituberis'') was the first viroid to be identified.

Tomato apical stunt viroid The tomato (, ), ''Solanum lycopersicum'', is a plant whose fruit is an edible Berry (botany), berry that is eaten as a vegetable. The tomato is a member of the nightshade family that includes tobacco, potato, and chili peppers. It originate ...

Tomato chlorotic dwarf viroid The tomato (, ), ''Solanum lycopersicum'', is a plant whose fruit is an edible berry that is eaten as a vegetable. The tomato is a member of the nightshade family that includes tobacco, potato, and chili peppers. It originated from and was d ...

Tomato planta macho viroid The tomato (, ), ''Solanum lycopersicum'', is a plant whose fruit is an edible berry that is eaten as a vegetable. The tomato is a member of the nightshade family that includes tobacco, potato, and chili peppers. It originated from and was d ...

References

External links

ICTV Report: ''Pospiviroidae''
– extensive information on pospiviroidae and viroids. Viroids {{virus-stub