Exploration of sequence space as the basis of viral RNA genome segmentation.

ABSTRACT: The mechanisms of viral RNA genome segmentation are unknown. On extensive passage of foot-and-mouth disease virus in baby hamster kidney-21 cells, the virus accumulated multiple point mutations and underwent a transition akin to genome segmentation. The standard single RNA genome molecule was replaced by genomes harboring internal in-frame deletions affecting the L- or capsid-coding region. These genomes were infectious and killed cells by complementation. Here we show that the point mutations in the nonstructural protein-coding region (P2, P3) that accumulated in the standard genome before segmentation increased the relative fitness of the segmented version relative to the standard genome. Fitness increase was documented by intracellular expression of virus-coded proteins and infectious p

SUBMITTER: Moreno E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4020086 | biostudies-literature | 2014 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature