Viroids - infectious RNA molecules

Vlroids are the smallest (246-371 nucleotides long) Infectious agents known today, consisting of single-stranded, circular RNA molecules, with characteristic rod-like secondary structures. Viroids - about 15 have been described so far - cause diseases of higher plants, and significantly affect agriculture. The molecular structure of some viroids has been elucidated and correlated, to some extent, with their function. VIrold-coding proteins have not been found. It Is generally accepted that viroids exert pathogenic effect by Interferring with vital cellular processes In which host RNA is a key element. The study of replication intermediates and host polymerases led to a rolling-circle model of viroids replication. Construction of cDNA clones has allowed for the development of a new, efficient method of virold detection. Finally, studies using infectious cDNA clones may lead to a practical use of viroids as vectors in plant recombinant DNA technology and may facilitate a deeper insight into molecular mechanisms of pathogenecity.

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