FUNCTIONS OF CONSERVED MOTIFS IN THE RNA-DEPENDENT RNA-POLYMERASE OF A YEAST DOUBLE-STRANDED-RNA VIRUS

At least eight conserved motifs are visible in the totivirus RNA-depen dent RNA polymerase (RDRP). We have systematically altered each of the se in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae double-stranded RNA virus ScVL1 by substituting the conserved motifs from a giardiavirus. The results hel p define the conserved regions of the RDRP involved in polymerase func tion and those essential for other reasons.