Index >>Viroids and Prions >>DNA Dependent Viroid Replication

DNA Dependent Viroid Replication - According to this scheme, viroids are transcribed from DNA templates by the normal transcribing machinery of the cell, The viroid may be replicated from one or more DNA segments of the host genome, or alternately a novel DNA may be produced in infected cells, with the infecting viroid RNA serving as a template.

This assumes the presence of an RNA directed DNA polymerase (reverse transcriptase) as a component of normal cells. The viroid RNA is then thought to be synthesized from the DNA through normal transcription

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