Cleavage of transcripts of foot and mouth disease virus (FMDV), Asia1 serotype, by ribozymes targeted to the VP3 and VP4 genes.

Two ribozyme genes were designed to cut within the VP4 and VP3 sequences of foot and mouth disease virus (FMDV) Asia1 serotype genome. The two genes were synthesized and cloned into pBluescript under the control of the T3 promoter. The ribozyme designed to cut the VP4 gene contained two catalytic sequences targeted to two GUC triplets that are 16 bases apart. The second ribozyme, intended to cut VP3, contained one catalytic sequence. Ribozymes obtained from run-off transcription from both plasmids were able to cleave viral RNA derived from runoff transcripts of plasmids carrying the proper FMDV cDNA inserts. The significance of these findings is discussed.