Hepatitis C virus internal ribosome entry site (IRES) stem loop IIId contains a phylogenetically conserved GGG triplet essential for translation and IRES folding

Citation
R. Jubin et al., Hepatitis C virus internal ribosome entry site (IRES) stem loop IIId contains a phylogenetically conserved GGG triplet essential for translation and IRES folding, J VIROLOGY, 74(22), 2000, pp. 10430-10437
Citations number
42
Categorie Soggetti
Microbiology
Journal title
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
ISSN journal
0022538X → ACNP
Volume
74
Issue
22
Year of publication
2000
Pages
10430 - 10437
Database
ISI
SICI code
0022-538X(200011)74:22<10430:HCVIRE>2.0.ZU;2-B
Abstract
The hepatitis C virus (HCV) internal ribosome entry site (IRES) is a highly structured RNA element that directs cap-independent translation of the vir al polyprotein. Morpholino antisense oligonucleotides directed towards stem loop md drastically reduced HCV IRES activity. Mutagenesis studies of this region showed that the GGG triplet (nucleotides 266 through 268) of the he xanucleotide apical loop of stem loop Ind is essential for IRES activity bo th in vitro and in vivo. Sequence comparison showed that apical loop nucleo tides (UUGGGU) were absolutely conserved across HCV genotypes and the GGG t riplet was strongly conserved among related Flavivirus and Pestivirus nontr anslated regions. Chimeric IRES elements with IIId derived from GB virus B (GBV-B) in the context of the HCV IRES possess translational activity. Muta tions within the IIId stem loop that abolish IRES activity also affect the RNA structure in RNase T-1-probing studies, demonstrating the importance of correct RNA folding to IRES function.