THE VIROID AND VIROID-LIKE RNA DATABASE

The viroid and viroid-like RNA database is a compilation of all natura l sequences published in journals or available from the GenBank and EM BL nucleotide sequence libraries. Several information regarding these RNA species such as the position of their self-catalytic domains and t he open reading frame of the human hepatitits delta virus are provided . The database also includes a determination of the likely ancestral s equence of most species and a prediction of the most stable secondary structures of these sequences. This online database is available on th e World Wide Web (http://www.callisto.si.usherb.ca/similar to jpperra) . It should provide an excellent reference point for further phylogene tic and structure-function studies of these RNA species.