Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

The influenza virus RNA polymerase synthesizes three types of RNA: genomic vRNA, anti-genomic cRNA and mRNA. Both vRNA and cRNA are bound by the viral RNA polymerase and nucleoprotein to form ribonucleoprotein complexes. Viral mRNAs are also proposed to be bound by the RNA polymerase to prevent their endonucleolytic cleavage, regulate the splicing of M1 mRNA, and facilitate translation. Here, we used standard immunoprecipitation, biochemical purification and RNA immunoprecipitation assays to investigate the association of viral and host factors with viral mRNA. We found that viral mRNA associates with the viral non-structural protein 1 (NS1), cellular poly(A)-binding protein 1 (PABP1), the 20 kDa subunit NCBP1 of the nuclear cap-binding complex (CBC), the RNA and export factor-binding protein REF/Aly and the translation initiation factor eIF4E. However, our data suggest that the RNA polymerase might not form part of the viral messenger ribonucleoprotein (mRNP) complex. We propose a model in which viral mRNAs, by associating with cellular cap-binding proteins, follow the pathways normally used by cellular mRNAs for splicing, nuclear export and translation.

Original publication

DOI

10.1099/vir.0.029231-0

Type

Journal article

Journal

J Gen Virol

Publication Date

07/2011

Volume

92

Pages

1627 - 1634

Keywords

Cell Line, DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases, Humans, Influenza A virus, Influenza, Human, Nuclear Cap-Binding Protein Complex, Poly(A)-Binding Protein I, Protein Binding, RNA, Messenger, RNA, Viral, Viral Proteins