Herpes simplex virus virion host shutoff protein is stimulated by translation initiation factors eIF4B and eIF4H.

ABSTRACT: The virion host shutoff protein (vhs) of herpes simplex virus triggers accelerated degradation of cellular and viral mRNAs while sparing other cytoplasmic RNA species. Previous work has shown that vhs forms a complex with translation initiation factor eIF4H, which displays detectable RNase activity in the absence of other viral or host proteins. However, the contributions of eIF4H and other host factors to the activity and mRNA targeting properties of vhs have not yet been directly examined. An earlier report from our laboratory demonstrated that rabbit reticulocyte lysate (RRL) contains one or more factors that strongly stimulate the RNase activity of vhs produced in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We report here that such yeast extracts display significant vhs-dependent RNase activity in the a

SUBMITTER: Doepker RC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC387725 | biostudies-literature | 2004 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature