Features of the autonomous function of the translational enhancer domain of satellite tobacco necrosis virus

• Published in: RNA (Cambridge) 1998-11, Vol.4 (11), p.1347-1356, Article S135583829898092X
• Main Authors: MEULEWAETER, FRANK, VAN MONTAGU, MARC, CORNELISSEN, MARC
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 3' Untranslated Regions - genetics; Base Sequence; Chloramphenicol O-Acetyltransferase - genetics; Gene Expression Regulation; Genes, Reporter; Genes, Viral - genetics; Helper Viruses - genetics; Molecular Sequence Data; Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; Open Reading Frames - genetics; Plant Viruses - genetics; Protein Biosynthesis - genetics; Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid - genetics; RNA Caps - genetics; RNA, Messenger - genetics; RNA, Viral - genetics; Satellite tobacco necrosis virus; Satellite Viruses - genetics; Transcription, Genetic
• ISSN: 1355-8382; 1469-9001
• DOI: 10.1017/S135583829898092X

The RNA of satellite tobacco necrosis virus (STNV) is a monocistronic messenger that lacks both a cap and a poly(A) tail. Translation of STNV RNA in vitro is promoted by a 120-nt translational enhancer domain (TED) in the 3′-untranslated region. TED also stimulates translation of heterologous mRNAs. In this study, we show that TED stimulates translation of a cat mRNA by increasing translation efficiency to the level of capped mRNA. This stimulatory activity is not impaired by translation through TED. TED stimulates translation efficiency from different positions within the mRNA, varying from the 5′ end to 940 nt downstream of the coding region. Duplication of TED has an additive effect on translation stimulation only when located at both ends of the mRNA. On dicistronic RNAs, TED stimulates translation of both cistrons to the same extent. These data suggest that TED acts primarily by recruiting the translational machinery to the RNA.