The topology of bulges in the long stem of the flavivirus 3' stem-loop is a major determinant of RNA replication competence.

ABSTRACT: All flavivirus genomes contain a 3'terminal stem-loop secondary structure (3'SL) formed by the most downstream approximately 100 nucleotides (nt) of the viral RNA. The 3'SL is required for virus replication and has been shown to bind both virus-coded and cellular proteins. Results of the present study using an infectious DNA for WN virus strain 956 initially demonstrated that the dengue virus serotype 2 (DEN2) 3'SL nucleotide sequence could not substitute for that of the WN 3'SL to support WN genome replication. To determine what WN virus-specific 3'SL nucleotide sequences were required for WN virus replication, WN virus 3'SL nucleotide sequences were selectively deleted and replaced by analogous segments of the DEN2 3'SL nucleotide sequence such that the overall 3'SL secondary structure w

SUBMITTER: Yu L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC546603 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature