virusoid
Sign in to saveVirusoids are circular single-stranded RNA(s) dependent on viruses for replication and encapsidation. The genome of virusoids consists of several hundred (200–400) nucleotides and does not code for any proteins.
~9 min read
Article
8 sectionsContents
- Definition
- History
- Replication
- Role of ribozyme structures in the self-cleavage and replication of virusoids
- Evolutionary origin
- Developments
- References
- External links
Virusoids are circular single-stranded RNA(s) dependent on viruses for replication and encapsidation. The genome of virusoids consists of several hundred (200–400) nucleotides and does not code for any proteins.
Virusoids are essentially viroids that have been encapsulated by a helper virus coat protein. They are thus similar to viroids in their means of replication (rolling circle replication) and in their lack of genes, but they differ in that viroids do not possess a protein coat. Both virusoids and a few viroids encode a hammerhead ribozyme.