Poster abstracts

Poster number 62 submitted by Woong June Park

Microinjection as a tool for studying the mechanism of nuclear import of Potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd)

Woong June Park (Department of Molecular Biology, Dankook University, South Korea), Biao Ding (Department of Molecular Genetics, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH)

Abstract:
Nuclear accumulation of the Potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) has been observed and is assumed to be essential for the replication of the viroid. However, the mechanism of nuclear import of PSTVd is still largely unknown. Many questions on the energy dependence, involvement of cytoplasmic and nucleoplasmic factors, role of the nuclear pore, structural requirements of PSTVd and many other aspects have not been addressed. To scrutinize the nuclear import of PSTVd, as a model for the viroids belonging to the family of Pospiviroidae, we tested several methods and select microinjection as a tool for study. By using this method, we traced time-dependent nuclear accumulation of PSTVd in epidermal cells of Nicotiana benthamiana. Recent data and possible application of this method will be discussed.

Keywords: PSTVd, Nuclear import, microinjection