Characterization of Mutational Tolerance of a Viral RNA-Protein Interaction.

ABSTRACT: Replication of RNA viruses is generally markedly error-prone. Nevertheless, these viruses usually retain their identity under more or less constant conditions due to different mechanisms of mutation tolerance. However, there exists only limited information on quantitative aspects of the mutational tolerance of distinct viral functions. To address this problem, we used here as a model the interaction between a replicative cis-acting RNA element (oriL) of poliovirus and its ligand (viral protein 3CD). The mutational tolerance of a conserved tripeptide of 3CD, directly involved in this interaction, was investigated. Randomization of the relevant codons and reverse genetics were used to define the space of viability-compatible sequences. Surprisingly, at least 11 different amino acid substitut

SUBMITTER: Prostova MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6563195 | biostudies-literature | 2019 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature