Three-dimensional structure of the 3'X-tail of hepatitis C virus RNA in monomeric and dimeric states.

ABSTRACT: The 3'X domain is a 98-nt region located at the 3' end of hepatitis C virus genomic RNA that plays essential functions in the viral life cycle. It contains an absolutely conserved, 16-base palindromic sequence that promotes viral RNA dimerization, overlapped with a 7-nt tract implicated in a distal contact with a nearby functional sequence. Using small angle X-ray scattering measurements combined with model building guided by NMR spectroscopy, we have studied the stoichiometry, structure, and flexibility of domain 3'X and two smaller subdomain sequences as a function of ionic strength, and obtained a three-dimensional view of the full-length domain in its monomeric and dimeric states. In the monomeric form, the 3'X domain adopted an elongated conformation containing two SL1' and SL2' doubl

SUBMITTER: Cantero-Camacho A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5558915 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature