Genetic trans-complementation establishes a new model for influenza virus RNA transcription and replication.

ABSTRACT: The influenza A viruses genome comprises eight single-stranded RNA segments of negative polarity. Each one is included in a ribonucleoprotein particle (vRNP) containing the polymerase complex and a number of nucleoprotein (NP) monomers. Viral RNA replication proceeds by formation of a complementary RNP of positive polarity (cRNP) that serves as intermediate to generate many progeny vRNPs. Transcription initiation takes place by a cap-snatching mechanism whereby the polymerase steals a cellular capped oligonucleotide and uses it as primer to copy the vRNP template. Transcription termination occurs prematurely at the polyadenylation signal, which the polymerase copies repeatedly to generate a 3'-terminal polyA. Here we studied the mechanisms of the viral RNA replication and transcription. We

SUBMITTER: Jorba N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2682650 | biostudies-literature | 2009 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature