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Journal of Virology, May 2001, p. 4226-4238, Vol. 75, No. 9
Department of Molecular Microbiology,
Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
63110,1 and Department of Microbiology
and Immunology, State University of New York Health Science Center
at Brooklyn, Brooklyn, New York 112032
Received 9 October 2000/Accepted 13 February 2001
An internal ribosome entry site (IRES) mediates translation
initiation of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) RNA. Studies have
suggested that a portion of the Npro open reading frame
(ORF) is required, although its exact function has not been defined.
Here we show that a subgenomic (sg) BVDV RNA in which the NS3 ORF is
preceded only by the 5' nontranslated region did not replicate to
detectable levels following transfection. However, RNA synthesis and
cytopathic effects were observed following serial passage in the
presence of a noncytopathic helper virus. Five sg clones derived from
the passaged virus contained an identical, silent substitution near the
beginning of the NS3 coding sequence (G400U), as well as additional
mutations. Four of the reconstructed mutant RNAs replicated in
transfected cells, and in vitro translation showed increased levels of
NS3 for the mutant RNAs compared to that of wild-type (wt) MetNS3. To
more precisely dissect the role of these mutations, we constructed two
sg derivatives: ad3.10, which contains only the G400U mutation, and
ad3.7, with silent substitutions designed to minimize RNA secondary
structure downstream of the initiator AUG. Both RNAs replicated and
were translated in vitro to similar levels. Moreover, ad3.7 and ad3.10,
but not wt MetNS3, formed toeprints downstream of the initiator AUG
codon in an assay for detecting the binding of 40S ribosomal subunits and 43S ribosomal complexes to the IRES. These results suggest that a
lack of stable RNA secondary structure(s), rather than a specific RNA
sequence, immediately downstream of the initiator AUG is important for
optimal translation initiation of pestivirus RNAs.
0022-538X/01/$04.00+0 DOI: 10.1128/JVI.75.9.4226-4238.2001
Copyright © 2001, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.
Efficient Translation Initiation Is Required for
Replication of Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus Subgenomic
Replicons
*
Corresponding author. Present address: Center for the
Study of Hepatitis C, The Rockefeller University, Box 64, 1230 York Ave., New York, NY 10021. Phone: (212) 327-7046. Fax: (212) 327-7048. E-mail: ricec{at}rockefeller.edu.
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