Exploring Gene Expression Strategies in Potato Leafroll Virus

Potato leafroll virus (PLRV) is a positive-sense single-stranded RNA plant virus in the genus Polerovirus (family Solemoviridae). This virus is known to use many gene expression strategies during viral infection, including subgenomic messenger RNA (sg mRNA) transcription and non-AUG initiation. In addition, it is known to produce a small viral RNA (svRNA) degradation product by cellular exoribonuclease digestion. The goal of this thesis was to investigate PLRV gene expression strategies and corresponding translational products. Two conserved structural elements, a sg mRNA promoter element, and a downstream stem loop (dSL), were identified. A previously defined RNA element involved in generating svRNA was also investigated. The results uncovered a sg mRNA transcriptional promoter element, a potential coding function for svRNA and no role for the dSL in modulating viral protein translation. These findings contribute to understanding how PLRV expresses its viral proteins during infections.