Real-time analysis of single influenza virus replication complexes reveals large promoter-dependent differences in initiation dynamics.

ABSTRACT: The viral RNA (vRNA) genome of influenza viruses is replicated by the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RNAP) via a complementary RNA (cRNA) intermediate. The vRNA promoter can adopt multiple conformations when bound by the RNAP. However, the dynamics, determinants, and biological role of these conformations are unknown; further, little is known about cRNA promoter conformations. To probe the RNA conformations adopted during initial replication, we monitored single, surface-immobilized vRNA and cRNA initiation complexes in real-time. Our results show that, while the 3' terminus of the vRNA promoter exists in dynamic equilibrium between pre-initiation and initiation conformations, the cRNA promoter exhibited very limited dynamics. Two residues in the proximal 3' region of the cRNA promoter (res

SUBMITTER: Robb NC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6614853 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature