7 & 8 - RNA Virus Replication Flashcards
RNA viruses baltimore groups
3, 4, and 5
How do RNA viruses replicate their genomes
- Using virally encoded RNA dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp)
- Some have methylase activities that synthesise mRNA caps
- Some may ‘stutter’ at poly U tracts to generate polyadenylated mRNAs
- Associated with other viral and cellular proteins to form replicase complex
Three types of RNA synthesised during replication
- Genome
- Copy of the genome (anti-genome)
- mRNA
- Some viruses may also synthesise subgenomic mRNAs
Three main processing steps of RNA
- Capping at 5’ end
- Addition of polyA tail at 3’ end
- Splicing to remove introns
RNA viruse replication
- Usually in cytoplasm (besides influenza and HIV)
- plus strand RNA viruses have genomes that are functional mRNAs (may be capped and polyadenylated)
- Minus sense (-) RNA viruses must carry RdRp in capsid, to begin replication
Earliest viral proteins synthesised
Those needed to synthesise new genomes, and RdRp
Virus replication complexes (VRCs)
- Many viruses that replicate in the cytoplasm compartmentalise genome replication and transcription of proteins to virus replication complexes (VRCs)
- Escape recognition from host defences and recognition by toll-like receptors
- Within the VRC the + strand genome is used as a template to synthesize full-length anti-genomes (- sense), which remain hydrogen bonded to the + strand
What are VRCs assembled by
- Non-structural viral proteins
- Viral genomes
- Host lipids
- Host proteins
Class 4 (+) RNA viruses
- Express multiple proteins from a single genome (a capsomer and RdRp)
- Eukaryotic mRNA encodes just one protein
- Immediate translation is critical for viral replication because it results in synthesis of the viral RdRp
- RdRp subsequently synthesizes the replicative forms and viral mRNA
- The Class IV viruses encode a polyprotein that is proteolytically processed to release many individual proteins including the capsomers and an RdRp
Viruses with genomes that lack 5’ cap
- Must compensate with structure that allows binding to ribosome (IRES)
- IRES-dependent translation initiation recruits translational machinery to an internal position in mRNA
- VPg is the protein primer for genome replication
IRES
- Internal ribosome entry site
- Complex stem loop structure in the 5’ UTR
initiation of franslation of mRNA
Occurs at elF4G initiation complex
elF4G
- Eukaryotic initiation factor
- Serves as docking site for initiation factors and proteins involved in RNA translation
Cap dependent initiation complex
- Normal initiation of host mRNA
involves the eIF4E protein binding to the 5ʹ cap and forming a complex with PABP - The small subunit of the ribosome (40S) is closest to the AUG start codon
Poliovirus initiation complex
- The host ITAF protein binds to the IRES and substitutes for eIF4E
- The terminal VPg protein was removed from the 5ʹ end of the genome by a host enzyme.
- Poliovirus proteolytically degrades eIF4E, thus preventing cap-dependent translation of host mRNA.
Events during gene expression and genome replications in some (+) strand RNA viruses
- After uncoating, the IRES enables the genome to be translated by making a polyprotein that is processed into individual proteins
- The proteins go on to form virus replication compartments in which double-stranded replicative forms are used to make mRNA and new genomes that are ultimately used to make new infectious virions
Flaviviruses
- Enveloped, spherical virions, 10-12kb +ssRNA genomes
- Have 5’ cap similar to host mRNA
- Lack 3’ poly-A tail, instead 3’ URT folds into secondary structure with several stem loops
- Encodes a single polyprotein that forms 3 structural proteins (C, M, E) and 7 non structural proteins
Translation of structural proteins through subgenomic RNA
- 2 distinct stages of gene expression that involves translation of proteins through subgenomic RNA
- e.g. SINV and CARS-Cov-2
- Genome divided into separate regions (encode non-structural and structural polyproteins, separated by non coding junction)
Early stage gene expression
Expression of non structural proteins