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Journal of Virology, January 2000, p. 418-427, Vol. 74, No. 1
Sir William Dunn School of Pathology,
University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
Received 6 July 1999/Accepted 5 October 1999
The poly(A) tail of influenza virus mRNA is synthesized by
reiterative copying of a U track near the 5' end of the virion RNA
(vRNA) template by the viral RNA polymerase. We have engineered a novel
influenza A/WSN/33 virus which contains a neuraminidase (NA) vRNA with
its U track mutated into an A track. Instead of synthesizing
poly(A)-tailed NA mRNA, this novel virus synthesizes poly(U)-tailed NA
mRNA. In infected cells, most poly(U)-tailed NA mRNA was retained in
the nucleus, while most control polyadenylated NA mRNA was transported
to the cytoplasm. These results suggest that the poly(A) tail is
important for efficient nuclear export of NA mRNA. The mutant virus
produced a reduced amount of NA and showed an attenuated phenotype,
suggesting that poly(A) signal mutants of this type might be useful as
potential live attenuated virus vaccines. In addition, this virus
mutant might provide a useful model to further elucidate the basic
mechanisms of mRNA nuclear export.
0022-538X/0/$04.00+0
Copyright © 2000, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.
Polyuridylated mRNA Synthesized by a Recombinant
Influenza Virus Is Defective in Nuclear Export
*
Corresponding author. Mailing address: Chemical
Pathology Unit, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of
Oxford, South Parks Rd., Oxford OX1 3RE, United Kingdom. Phone: 44 (1865) 275559. Fax: 44 (1865) 275556. E-mail:
George.Brownlee{at}path.ox.ac.uk.
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