Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
6142239 | Virus Research | 2015 | 9 Pages |
Abstract
The non-coding regions found at the 5â² and 3â² ends of alphavirus genomes regulate viral gene expression, replication, translation and virus-host interactions, which have significant implications for viral evolution, host range, and pathogenesis. The functions of these non-coding regions are mediated by a combination of linear sequence and structural elements. The capped 5â² untranslated region (UTR) contains promoter elements, translational regulatory sequences that modulate dependence on cellular translation factors, and structures that help to avoid innate immune defenses. The polyadenylated 3â² UTR contains highly conserved sequence elements for viral replication, binding sites for cellular miRNAs that determine cell tropism, host range, and pathogenesis, and conserved binding regions for a cellular protein that influences viral RNA stability. Nonetheless, there are additional conserved elements in non-coding regions of the virus (e.g., the repeated sequence elements in the 3â² UTR) whose function remains obscure. Thus, key questions remain as to the function of these short yet influential untranslated segments of alphavirus RNAs.
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Virology
Authors
Jennifer L. Hyde, Rubing Chen, Derek W. Trobaugh, Michael S. Diamond, Scott C. Weaver, William B. Klimstra, Jeffrey Wilusz,