RNA ligands activate the Machupo virus polymerase and guide promoter usage.

ABSTRACT: Segmented negative-sense (SNS) RNA viruses initiate infection by delivering into cells a suite of genomic RNA segments, each sheathed by the viral nucleocapsid protein and bound by the RNA-dependent RNA-polymerase (RdRP). For the orthomyxovirus influenza and the bunyavirus La Crosse, the 5' end of the genomic RNA binds as a hook-like structure proximal to the active site of the RdRP. Using an in vitro assay for the RNA-dependent RNA-polymerase (RdRP) of the arenavirus Machupo (MACV), we demonstrate that the 5' genomic and antigenomic RNAs of both small and large genome segments stimulate activity in a promoter-specific manner. Functional probing of the activating RNAs identifies intramolecular base-pairing between positions +1 and +7 and a pseudotemplated 5' terminal guanine residue as key

SUBMITTER: Pyle JD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6535001 | biostudies-literature | 2019 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature