Synthesis of (-)-strand RNA from the 3′ untranslated region of plant viral genomes expressed in transgenic plants upon infection with related viruses

When expressed in transgenic tobacco plants, transgene mRNA that includes the 3' untranslated region (3' UTR) of Lettuce mosaic virus served as template for synthesis of complementary (-)-strand RNA following an infection by Tobacco etch virus, Tobacco vein mottle virus or Pepper mottle virus, but not when infected with Cucumber mosaic virus. Deletion of the 3' UTR from the transgene abolished the synthesis of (-)-strand transcripts. Similar results were obtained in transgenic tobacco plants expressing mRNA that includes the RNA3 3' UTR of Cucumber mosaic virus when infected with Tomato aspermy virus. These results show that the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase of several potyviruses and Tomato aspermy virus have the ability to recognize heterologous 3' UTRs when included in transgene mRNAs, and to use them as transcription promoters.