Novel gene product of Thogoto virus segment 6 codes for an interferon antagonist.

ABSTRACT: Thogoto virus (THOV) is a tick-transmitted orthomyxovirus with a genome of six negative-stranded RNA segments. The sixth segment encodes two different transcripts: a spliced transcript that is translated into the matrix protein (M) and an unspliced transcript. Here, we report that the unspliced transcript encodes an elongated form of M named ML. A THOV isolate deficient in ML expression was an efficient interferon inducer, whereas ML-expressing wild-type strains were poor interferon inducers. These results were confirmed with recombinant THOVs rescued from cDNAs. Expression of ML efficiently suppressed activation of the beta interferon promoter by double-stranded RNA. These results indicate that ML is an accessory protein that functions as a potent interferon antagonist by blocking transcr

SUBMITTER: Hagmaier K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC141086 | biostudies-literature | 2003 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature