NLM DIR Seminar Schedule

Abstract:

Using a custom computational pipeline, we searched 5,131 global metatranscriptomes for viroid-like circular RNAs. By combining direct sequence searches against ViroidDB, a comprehensive collection of viroids and viroid-like sequences, with structure-based searches for self-cleaving ribozymes, we were able to identify 4,860 novel viroid-like sequence clusters containing a range of ribozymes. Clustering these sequences reveals a fivefold increase in diversity relative to known viroid-like agents. The novel sequences span the viroid-like space from putative viroids to ribozyviruses and retrozymes. Additionally, we identify the ribozy-like nature of certain riboviruses infecting fungi and provide evidence for CRISPR targeting of viroid-like RNAs.