Expression of endogenous para-retroviral genes and molecular analysis of the integration events in its plant host Dahlia variabilis.

The dahlia (Dahlia variabilis) genome contains an endogenous pararetrovirus sequence (EPRS) tentatively designated as DvEPRS. The DvEPRS shares genome structure and organization that is typical of members of the Caulimovirus genus. Studies were carried out to better understand the nature of this integration and to determine the gene expression of this DvEPRS. Genomic Southern hybridization showed multiple and random integration events of the DvEPRS in the dahlia genome. To investigate the presence of DvEPRS transcripts, RT-PCR was done on DNase-treated total RNA from DvEPRS-infected dahlia plants. Results showed the expression of open reading frames I, V, and VI. Direct PCR from sap extracts produced more intense DNA amplicons of Dahlia mosaic virus and Dahlia common mosaic virus which are believed to exist as typical episomal caulimoviruses, whereas significantly less intense amplicon was seen in case of DvEPRS in comparison with internal transcribed spacer region of dahlias amplicon. The DvEPRS in wild and cultivated species of Dahlia offer a model system to study the molecular events underlying the ecology, evolution and spread of DvEPRS within natural and managed ecosystems and the factors affecting integration of these EPRS in the plant genome.