Idiosyncratic behaviour of tRNA-like structures in translation of plant viral RNA genomes

Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) and Nemesia ring necrosis virus (NeRNV) belong to the Tobamoviridae and Tymoviridae families, respectively. Although their RNAs present different 5'-untranslated regions and different family-specific genomic organizations, they share common 3'-ends organized into three consecutive pseudoknot structures followed by a histidylatable tRNA-like structure (TLS). We investigate here whether the histidine residue becomes incorporated into viral proteins and if the TLSs of TMV and NeRNV play a role in viral translation. Our results indicate that, regardless of the genomic context, the histidine moiety does not become incorporated in proteins via ribosomal translation, and that disruption of the TLS in either viral RNA does not perturb the viral translation patterns. In the light of the present data and of previous results on tymoviral TLSVal and bromoviral TLSTyr showing differential effects on translation, we suggest that the key role for the TLS in promoting translation initiation appears to be dictated by the TLS architecture and identity. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.