Changes in RNA secondary structure affect NS1 protein expression during early stage influenza virus infection.

ABSTRACT: RNA secondary structures play a key role in splicing, gene expression, microRNA biogenesis, RNA editing, and other biological processes. The importance of RNA structures has been demonstrated in the life cycle of RNA-containing viruses, including the influenza virus. At least two regions of conserved secondary structure in NS segment (+) RNA are predicted to vary among influenza virus strains with respect to thermodynamic stability; both fall in the NS1 open reading frame. The NS1 protein is involved in multiple virus-host interaction processes, and its main function is to inhibit the cellular immune response to viral infection. Using a reverse genetics approach, four influenza virus strains were constructed featuring mutations that have different effects on RNA secondary structure. Growth

SUBMITTER: Baranovskaya I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6925897 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature