Hepatitis E virus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase is involved in RNA replication and infectious particle production.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is one of the most common causes of acute hepatitis worldwide. Its positive-strand RNA genome encodes three open reading frames (ORF). ORF1 is translated into a large protein composed of multiple domains and is known as the viral replicase. The RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RDRP) domain is responsible for the synthesis of viral RNA.

Approach and results

Here, we identified a highly conserved α-helix located in the RDRP thumb subdomain. Nuclear magnetic resonance demonstrated an amphipathic α-helix extending from amino acids 1628 to 1644 of the ORF1 protein. Functional analyses revealed a dual role of this helix in HEV RNA replication and virus production, including assembly and release. Mutations on the hydrophobic side of the amph

SUBMITTER: Oechslin N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9300124 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature