%0 Journal Article %A Preisig, O. %A Moleleki, N. %A Smit, W. A. %A Wingfield, B. D. %A Wingfield, M. J. %T A novel RNA mycovirus in a hypovirulent isolate of the plant pathogen Diaporthe ambigua %D 2000 %J Journal of General Virology, %V 81 %N 12 %P 3107-3114 %@ 1465-2099 %R https://doi.org/10.1099/0022-1317-81-12-3107 %I Microbiology Society, %X Hypovirulent isolates of the fruit tree fungal pathogen Diaporthe ambigua have previously been shown to harbour a double-stranded (ds)RNA genetic element of about 4 kb. In this study, we established the complete cDNA sequence of this dsRNA, which represents a replicative form of a positive-strand RNA virus that we have named D. ambigua RNA virus (DaRV). The nucleotide sequence of the genome is 4113 bp and has a GC content of 53%. Two large ORFs are present in the same reading frame. They are most probably translated by readthrough of a UAG stop codon in the central part of the genome. The longest possible translation product (p125) has a predicted molecular mass of about 125 kDa. A significant homology can be found to the non-structural proteins of carmoviruses of the positive-strand RNA virus family Tombusviridae. These proteins also include the conserved RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RDRP) domain. In contrast to the genome organization of these plant viruses, no ORF is present at the 3′ end of the DaRV genome that encodes a coat protein. Therefore, it is proposed that DaRV is not encapsidated but that it occurs as RNA–RDRP complexes and/or that it might be associated with cell membranes. Interestingly, six putative transmembrane helices are predicted in the N-terminal part of p56 (translation product of the first ORF, N-terminal part of p125), which might direct and anchor the viral complex to membranes. DaRV is a mycovirus with a unique genome organization and has a distant relationship to the plant virus family Tombusviridae. %U https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jgv/10.1099/0022-1317-81-12-3107