Multiple levels of posttranscriptional regulation of influenza virus gene expression

The genome of Influenza viruses consists of a set of single-stranded, negat ive-polarity ribonucleoproteins. Each one is replicated and transcribed as an independent unit in the nucleus of the infected cell. This property allo ws the existence of both nuclear and cytoplasmic regulatory steps in the co ntrol of viral gene expression at the posttranscriptional level. The regula tion of mRNA splicing and nucleocytoplasmic mRNA transport and the preferen tial translation of viral mRNAs in the infected cell are discussed, stressi ng the possible role of NS1 protein in these processes. (C) 1998 Academic P ress.