Abstract
Viral noncoding RNAs have been shown to play an important role in virus-host interplay to facilitate virus replication. We report that members of the genus Flavivirus, a large group of medically important encephalitic RNA viruses, produce a unique and highly structured noncoding RNA of 0.30.5 kb derived from the 3 untranslated region of the viral genome. Using West Nile virus as a model, we show that this subgenomic RNA is a product of incomplete degradation of viral genomic RNA by cellular ribonucleases. Highly conserved RNA structures located at the beginning of the 3 untranslated region render this RNA resistant to nucleases, and the resulting subgenomic RNA product is essential for virus-induced cytopathicity and pathogenicity. Thus, flaviviruses evolved a unique strategy to generate a noncoding RNA product that allows them to kill the host more efficiently.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 579-591 |
| Journal | Cell Host & Microbe |
| Volume | 4 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2008 |
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Keywords
- west-nile-virus
- unfolded protein response
- kunjin virus
- secondary structure
- encephalitis-virus
- saccharomyces-cerevisiae
- cyclization sequences
- untranslated region
- genetic algorithm
- apoptotic pathway
Cite this
Pijlman, G. P., Funk, A., Kondratieva, N., Leung, J. Y., van der Aa, L. M., Liu, W. J., ... Khromykh, A. A. (2008). A highly structured nuclease-resistant, noncoding RNA produced by Flavoviruses is required for pathogenicity. Cell Host & Microbe, 4(6), 579-591. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chom.2008.10.007