This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Egger, D. Articles by Bienz, K. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Egger, D. Articles by Bienz, K.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Journal of Virology, November 2002, p. 10960-10971, Vol. 76, No. 21
0022-538X/02/$04.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/JVI.76.21.10960-10971.2002
Copyright © 2002, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Recombination of Poliovirus RNA Proceeds in Mixed Replication Complexes Originating from Distinct Replication Start Sites

Institute for Medical Microbiology, University of Basel, CH-4000 Basel, Switzerland

Received 8 March 2002/ Accepted 22 July 2002

Genetic recombination occurs frequently during replication of picornaviruses. To explore the intracellular site and structures involved in recombination, HeLa cells were infected with poliovirus type 1 Mahoney and type 2 Sabin. The two genomes were located by fluorescent in situ hybridization and confocal microscopy. For hybridization, type-specific fluorescent riboprobes were used to visualize the same genomic region where, in parallel, recombination was demonstrated with type-specific reverse transcription-PCR and sequencing. The hybridization analysis indicated that >85% of the replication complexes contained both type 1 and type 2 RNA sequences aligned at a lateral distance of 50 nm or less. Sequential infection of cells ruled out the possibility that the high percentage of mixed replication complexes was due to aggregation of input virus. Visualization of input genomic RNA over time showed that the viral genomes migrated to relatively few distinct, and thus presumably specific, perinuclear sites where replication started. The first recombinant RNA strands could be detected concomitantly with the onset of RNA replication. The limited number of start sites for replication may be the reason for the observed preferential formation of mixed replication complexes, each accommodating several parental RNA strands and thus allowing recombination.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Garcia-Ruiz, H., Ahlquist, P. (2006). Inducible Yeast System for Viral RNA Recombination Reveals Requirement for an RNA Replication Signal on Both Parental RNAs.. J. Virol. 80: 8316-8328 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Egger, D., Bienz, K. (2005). Intracellular location and translocation of silent and active poliovirus replication complexes. J. Gen. Virol. 86: 707-718 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Oberste, M. S., Maher, K., Pallansch, M. A. (2004). Evidence for Frequent Recombination within Species Human Enterovirus B Based on Complete Genomic Sequences of All Thirty-Seven Serotypes. J. Virol. 78: 855-867 [Abstract] [Full Text]