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J. Virol., 01 1998, 520-526, Vol 72, No. 1
RW Hardy and GW Wertz
The mRNA encoding the M2 protein of respiratory syncytial (RS) virus
contains two open reading frames (ORFs). ORF1 encodes the 22-kDa structural
protein, M2, and ORF2 has the potential to encode a 10-kDa protein (90
amino acids). Using a vaccinia virus T7 expression system, we examined the
RNA synthetic activities of mono- and dicistronic subgenomic replicons of
RS virus by direct metabolic labeling of RNA in the presence and absence of
the products of ORF1 and ORF2. In the absence of ORF1 and ORF2, the
negative- and positive-sense products of genomic RNA replication and
positive-sense polyadenylated mRNA(s) were synthesized. Expression of the
whole M2 transcription unit (containing ORF1 and ORF2) or ORF1 alone caused
an increase in the synthesis of polyadenylated mRNA, the majority of which
was due to a substantial increase in the quantity of polycistronic mRNAs
generated by the polymerase failing to terminate at gene end signals. In
agreement with previous reports, the ORF2 product was found to inhibit
viral RNA replication and mRNA transcription. These data show that the M2
protein functions as a transcriptional antiterminator that enhances the
ability of the viral RNA polymerase to read through intergenic junctions.
The role of such a function during the viral life cycle is discussed.
Copyright © 1998, American Society for Microbiology
The product of the respiratory syncytial virus M2 gene ORF1 enhances readthrough of intergenic junctions during viral transcription
Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama School of Medicine at Birmingham, 35294, USA.
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