scholarly journals Structure and function of RNA elements present in enteroviral genomes

2017 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariola Dutkiewicz ◽  
Aleksandra Stachowiak ◽  
Agata Swiatkowska ◽  
Jerzy Ciesiołka

Enteroviruses are small RNA(+) viruses that encode one open reading frame flanked by two extensive noncoding regions carrying structural RNA regulatory elements that control replication and translation processes. For a long time the central, coding region was thought to remain single-stranded and its only function was supposed to be as the template for polyprotein synthesis. It turned out, however, that the protein coding region also encodes important RNA structures crucial for the viral life cycle and virus persistence in host cells. This review considers the RNA structures in enteroviral genomes identified and characterized to date.

1993 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 5034-5042
Author(s):  
C L Wellington ◽  
M E Greenberg ◽  
J G Belasco

The protein-coding region of the c-fos proto-oncogene transcript contains elements that direct the rapid deadenylation and decay of this mRNA in mammalian cells. The function of these coding region instability determinants requires movement of ribosomes across mRNAs containing them. Three types of mechanisms could account for this translational requirement. Two of these possibilities, (i) that rapid mRNA decay might be mediated by the nascent polypeptide chain and (ii) that it might result from an unusual codon usage, have experimental precedent. Here, we present evidence that the destabilizing elements in the c-fos coding region are not recognized in either of these two ways. Instead, the ability of the c-fos coding region to function as a potent mRNA destabilizer when translated in the +1 reading frame indicates that the signals for rapid deadenylation and decay reside in the sequence or structure of the RNA comprising this c-fos domain.


2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. eaau9739 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandip De ◽  
Yuzhong Cheng ◽  
Ming-an Sun ◽  
Natalie D. Gehred ◽  
Judith A. Kassis

Polycomb group proteins (PcGs) drive target gene repression and form large chromatin domains. InDrosophila, DNA elements known as Polycomb group response elements (PREs) recruit PcGs to the DNA. We have shown that, within theinvected-engrailed(inv-en) Polycomb domain, strong, constitutive PREs are dispensable for Polycomb domain structure and function. We suggest that the endogenous chromosomal location imparts stability to this Polycomb domain. To test this possibility, a 79-kbentransgene was inserted into other chromosomal locations. This transgene is functional and forms a Polycomb domain. The spreading of the H3K27me3 repressive mark, characteristic of PcG domains, varies depending on the chromatin context of the transgene. Unlike at the endogenous locus, deletion of the strong, constitutive PREs from the transgene leads to both loss- and gain-of function phenotypes, demonstrating the important role of these regulatory elements. Our data show that chromatin context plays an important role in Polycomb domain structure and function.


2001 ◽  
Vol 75 (17) ◽  
pp. 7791-7802 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claus W. Grassmann ◽  
Olaf Isken ◽  
Norbert Tautz ◽  
Sven-Erik Behrens

ABSTRACT The functional analysis of molecular determinants which control the replication of pestiviruses was considerably facilitated by the finding that subgenomic forms of the positive-strand RNA genome of BVDV (bovine viral diarrhea virus) are capable of autonomous replication in transfected host cells. The prototype replicon, BVDV DI9c, consists of the genomic 5′ and 3′ untranslated regions and a truncated open reading frame (ORF) encoding mainly the nonstructural proteins NS3, NS4A, NS4B, NS5A, and NS5B. To gain insight into which of these proteins are essential for viral replication and whether they act in cisor in trans, we introduced a large spectrum of in-frame mutations into the DI9c ORF. Tests of the mutant RNAs in terms of their replication capacity and their ability to support translation and cleavage of the nonstructural polyprotein, and whether defects could be rescued in trans, yielded the following results. (i) RNA replication was found to be dependent on the expression of each of the DI9c-encoded mature proteins NS3 to NS5B (and the known associated enzymatic activities). In the same context, a finely balanced molar ratio of the diverse proteolytic processing products was indicated to be crucial for the formation of an active catalytic replication complex. (ii) Synthesis of negative-strand intermediate and progeny positive-strand RNA was observed to be strictly coupled with all functional DI9c ORF derivatives. NS3 to NS5B were hence suggested to play a pivotal role even during early steps of the viral replication pathway. (iii) Mutations in the NS3 and NS4B units which generated nonfunctional or less functional RNAs were determined to becis dominant. Likewise, lethal alterations in the NS4A and NS5B regions were invariably noncomplementable. (iv) In surprising contrast, replication of functional and nonfunctional NS5A mutants could be clearly enhanced and restored, respectively. In summary, our data provide initial insights into the organization of the pestivirus replication machinery.


2015 ◽  
Vol 90 (4) ◽  
pp. 1898-1909 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristina Brauburger ◽  
Yannik Boehmann ◽  
Verena Krähling ◽  
Elke Mühlberger

ABSTRACTThe highly pathogenic Ebola virus (EBOV) has a nonsegmented negative-strand (NNS) RNA genome containing seven genes. The viral genes either are separated by intergenic regions (IRs) of variable length or overlap. The structure of the EBOV gene overlaps is conserved throughout all filovirus genomes and is distinct from that of the overlaps found in other NNS RNA viruses. Here, we analyzed how diverse gene borders and noncoding regions surrounding the gene borders influence transcript levels and govern polymerase behavior during viral transcription. Transcription of overlapping genes in EBOV bicistronic minigenomes followed the stop-start mechanism, similar to that followed by IR-containing gene borders. When the gene overlaps were extended, the EBOV polymerase was able to scan the template in an upstream direction. This polymerase feature seems to be generally conserved among NNS RNA virus polymerases. Analysis of IR-containing gene borders showed that the IR sequence plays only a minor role in transcription regulation. Changes in IR length were generally well tolerated, but specific IR lengths led to a strong decrease in downstream gene expression. Correlation analysis revealed that these effects were largely independent of the surrounding gene borders. Each EBOV gene contains exceptionally long untranslated regions (UTRs) flanking the open reading frame. Our data suggest that the UTRs adjacent to the gene borders are the main regulators of transcript levels. A highly complex interplay between the differentcis-acting elements to modulate transcription was revealed for specific combinations of IRs and UTRs, emphasizing the importance of the noncoding regions in EBOV gene expression control.IMPORTANCEOur data extend those from previous analyses investigating the implication of noncoding regions at the EBOV gene borders for gene expression control. We show that EBOV transcription is regulated in a highly complex yet not easily predictable manner by a set of interactingcis-active elements. These findings are important not only for the design of recombinant filoviruses but also for the design of other replicon systems widely used as surrogate systems to study the filovirus replication cycle under low biosafety levels. Insights into the complex regulation of EBOV transcription conveyed by noncoding sequences will also help to interpret the importance of mutations that have been detected within these regions, including in isolates of the current outbreak.


Blood ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 91 (12) ◽  
pp. 4593-4599 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tony L. Yang ◽  
Jisong Cui ◽  
Alnawaz Rehumtulla ◽  
Angela Yang ◽  
Micheline Moussalli ◽  
...  

Factor V (FV) is a central regulator of hemostasis, serving both as a critical cofactor for the prothrombinase activity of factor Xa and the target for proteolytic inactivation by the anticoagulant, activated protein C (APC). To examine the evolutionary conservation of FV procoagulant activity and functional inactivation by APC, we cloned and sequenced the coding region of murine FV cDNA and generated recombinant wild-type and mutant murine FV proteins. The murine FV cDNA encodes a 2,183-amino acid protein. Sequence comparison shows that the A1-A3 and C1-C2 domains of FV are highly conserved, demonstrating greater than 84% sequence identity between murine and human, and 60% overall amino acid identity among human, bovine, and murine FV sequences. In contrast, only 35% identity among all three species is observed for the poorly conserved B domain. The arginines at all thrombin cleavage sites and the R305 and R504 APC cleavage sites (corresponding to amino acid residues R306 and R506 in human FV) are invariant in all three species. Point mutants were generated to substitute glutamine at R305, R504, or both (R305/R504). Wild-type and all three mutant FV recombinant proteins show equivalent FV procoagulant activity. Single mutations at R305 or R504 result in partial resistance of FV to APC inactivation, whereas recombinant murine FV carrying both mutations (R305Q/R504Q) is nearly completely APC resistant. Thus, the structure and function of FV and its interaction with APC are highly conserved across mammalian species.


1981 ◽  
Vol 9 (21) ◽  
pp. 5623-5644 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva van den Berg ◽  
Joke Zwetsloot ◽  
Inge Noordermeer ◽  
Hans Pannekoek ◽  
Ben Dekker ◽  
...  

1986 ◽  
Vol 6 (12) ◽  
pp. 4676-4689 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Laughon ◽  
A M Boulet ◽  
J R Bermingham ◽  
R A Laymon ◽  
M P Scott

The Antennapedia (Antp) homeotic gene of Drosophila melanogaster regulates segmental identity in the thorax. Loss of Antp function results in altered development of the embryonic thoracic segments or can cause legs to be transformed into antennae. Certain combinations of Antp recessive lethal alleles complement to permit normal development. The structure of the Antp gene, analyzed by sequencing cDNA clones and exons and by transcript mapping, revealed some of the basis for its genetic complexity. It has two promoters governing two nested transcription units, one unit 36 and one 103 kilobase pairs (kb) long. Both units incorporated the same protein-coding exons, all of which are located in the 3'-most 13 kb of the gene. The two promoters resulted in the attachment of either of two long noncoding leader sequences (1.5 and 1.7 kb) to a 1.1-kb open reading frame. Both transcription units used the same pair of alternative polyadenylation sites 1.4 kb apart; the choice of sites was developmentally regulated. Some of the mutations that disrupt the larger transcription unit complemented a mutation affecting the smaller one. Dominant mutations that transform antennae into legs split the gene but left the coding exons intact. The encoded protein has unusually long runs of glutamine and a homeodomain near the C terminus.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Namya Mellouk ◽  
Christelle Ramé ◽  
Alix Barbe ◽  
Jérémy Grandhaye ◽  
Pascal Froment ◽  
...  

Reproduction is a complex and essential physiological process required by all species to produce a new generation. This process involves strict hormonal regulation, depending on a connection between the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis and peripheral organs. Metabolic homeostasis influences the reproductive functions, and its alteration leads to disturbances in the reproductive functions of humans as well as animals. For a long time, adipose tissue has been recognised as an endocrine organ but its ability to secrete and release hormones called adipokines is now emerging. Adipokines have been found to play a major role in the regulation of metabolic and reproductive processes at both central and peripheral levels. Leptin was initially the first adipokine that has been described to be the most involved in the metabolism/reproduction interrelation in mammals. In avian species, the role of leptin is still under debate. Recently, three novel adipokines have been discovered: adiponectin (ADIPOQ, ACRP30), visfatin (NAMPT, PBEF), and chemerin (RARRES2, TIG2). However, their mode of action between mammalian and nonmammalian species is different due to the different reproductive and metabolic systems. Herein, we will provide an overview of the structure and function related to metabolic and reproductive mechanisms of the latter three adipokines with emphasis on avian species.


2010 ◽  
Vol 2010 ◽  
pp. 1-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harry S. Courtney ◽  
Henry J. Pownall

Serum opacity factor (SOF) is a virulence determinant expressed by a variety of streptococcal and staphylococcal species including both human and animal pathogens. SOF derives its name from its ability to opacify serum where it targets and disrupts the structure of high-density lipoproteins resulting in formation of large lipid vesicles that cause the serum to become cloudy. SOF is a multifunctional protein and in addition to its opacification activity, it binds to a number of host proteins that mediate adhesion of streptococci to host cells, and it plays a role in resistance to phagocytosis in human blood. This article will provide an overview of the structure and function of SOF, its role in the pathogenesis of streptococcal infections, its vaccine potential, its prevalence and distribution in bacteria, and the molecular mechanism whereby SOF opacifies serum and how an understanding of this mechanism may lead to therapies for reducing high-cholesterol concentrations in blood, a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document