Secondary structure of the mature ex virio Moloney murine leukemia virus genomic RNA dimerization domain.

ABSTRACT: Retroviral genomes are dimeric, comprised of two sense-strand RNAs linked at their 5' ends by noncovalent base pairing and tertiary interactions. Viral maturation involves large-scale morphological changes in viral proteins and in genomic RNA dimer structures to yield infectious virions. Structural studies have largely focused on simplified in vitro models of genomic RNA dimers even though the relationship between these models and authentic viral RNA is unknown. We evaluate the secondary structure of the minimal dimerization domain in genomes isolated from Moloney murine leukemia virions using a quantitative and single nucleotide resolution RNA structure analysis technology (selective 2'-hydroxyl acylation analyzed by primer extension, or SHAPE). Results are consistent with an architecture

SUBMITTER: Gherghe C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2798349 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature