The leading sequence of caulimovirus large RNA can be folded into a large stem-loop structure

Abstract
The 600 nt long sequences preceeding the first large ORFs (ORF VII) of three caulimoviruses, although varying in primary sequence, can be folded into a large stem/loop structure centered around a conserved stretch of 36 nucleotides. Deletions of the conserved sequence delay symptom appearance considerably, but do not affect expression of a reporter gene inplant protoplasts. Another striking similarity between the leaders concerns the number and distribution of small open reading frames (sORF) they carry-Expression of two of these sORFs was tested by fusion of a reporter gene: both were expressed in plant protoplasts.
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