Non-canonical translation in RNA viruses

Viral protein synthesis is completely dependent upon the translational machinery of the host cell. However, many RNA virus transcripts have marked structural differences from cellular mRNAs that preclude canonical translation initiation, such as the absence of a 5' cap structure or the presence...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of general virology 2012-07, Vol.93 (Pt 7), p.1385-1409
Main Authors: FIRTH, Andrew E, BRIERLEY, Ian
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Eukaryota - virology
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Gene Expression
Microbiology
Miscellaneous
Nucleic Acid Conformation
Protein Biosynthesis
Review
RNA Viruses - genetics
RNA, Viral - genetics
Viral Proteins - biosynthesis
Virology
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Summary:Viral protein synthesis is completely dependent upon the translational machinery of the host cell. However, many RNA virus transcripts have marked structural differences from cellular mRNAs that preclude canonical translation initiation, such as the absence of a 5' cap structure or the presence of highly structured 5'UTRs containing replication and/or packaging signals. Furthermore, whilst the great majority of cellular mRNAs are apparently monocistronic, RNA viruses must often express multiple proteins from their mRNAs. In addition, RNA viruses have very compact genomes and are under intense selective pressure to optimize usage of the available sequence space. Together, these features have driven the evolution of a plethora of non-canonical translational mechanisms in RNA viruses that help them to meet these challenges. Here, we review the mechanisms utilized by RNA viruses of eukaryotes, focusing on internal ribosome entry, leaky scanning, non-AUG initiation, ribosome shunting, reinitiation, ribosomal frameshifting and stop-codon readthrough. The review will highlight recently discovered examples of unusual translational strategies, besides revisiting some classical cases.
ISSN:0022-1317
1465-2099
DOI:10.1099/vir.0.042499-0