Pospiviroidae (taxid:185751)

VIRION

Capsidless: Viroids do not code for proteins and therefore cannot build a virion structure.

GENOME

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Circular, ssRNA(-) genome of 240-400 b. Most of the genome displays complementary strands. This family is distinguished by a central conserved region (CCR) and lacks the ability to self-cleave through hammerhead structures. Replication occurs by assymmetric rolling circle.

REPLICATION

NUCLEAR

  1. Viroid infects cell presumably through cell-to-cell transport and/or injection by insects.
  2. The viroid genomic RNA is transported to the nucleus.
  3. Assymmetric rolling circle replication
  4. New genomes exit the cell presumably using cell-to-cell transport and/or feeding by insects.