Ribosomal protein L5 and transcription factor IIIA from Arabidopsis thaliana bind in vitro specifically Potato spindle tuber viroid RNA

Potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) contains an element of tertiary structure -loop E- also present in eukaryotic 5S rRNA. The ribosomal protein L5 and transcription factor IIIA (TFIIIA) from Arabidopsis thaliana bind 5S rRNA in vitro and in vivo, mediating different functions that include nucleocytoplasmic transport and transcription activation, respectively. We show that A. thaliana L5 and TFIIIA also bind PSTVd (+) RNA in vitro with the same affinity as they bind 5S rRNA, whereas the affinity for a chloroplastic viroid is significantly lower. These two proteins might participate in the synthesis and delivery of PSTVd RNA in vivo.