Aa. Haller et Bl. Semler, STEM-LOOP STRUCTURE SYNERGY IN BINDING CELLULAR PROTEINS TO THE 5' NONCODING REGION OF POLIOVIRUS RNA, Virology, 206(2), 1995, pp. 923-934
Picornavirus RNAs interact with host cellular proteins to direct viral
translation initiation by internal ribosome entry. In this study, we
analyzed the RNA-protein interactions involving computer-predicted ste
m-loops F and G (also referred to as V and VI, respectively) of the 5'
NCR of poliovirus RNA This region of the 5' NCR harbors part of the p
utative internal ribosome entry site. We show that a ribonucleoprotein
complex involving stem-loop G RNA is composed, at least in part, of a
39-kDa HeLa cell polypeptide which contacts the viral RNA directly. I
nterestingly, the binding site of a neuronal cell 60-kDa protein, not
present in HeLa cells, was mapped specifically to stem-loop G. We also
determined that a subset of cellular factors requires a higher order
structure synergy before binding to poliovirus RNAs. This was demonstr
ated by using a longer RNA encompassing both stem-loops F and G in the
binding assays. Indeed, a protein with an approximate molecular weigh
t of 36 kDa was shown to interact specifically with these poliovirus s
equences. In addition, the role of a cellular polypeptide (p57 or PTB)
in poliovirus replication functions was studied. Our results suggest
that p57 interactions with stem-loops F-G are not required for interna
l ribosome binding on poliovirus RNAs. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.