Abstract | BACKGROUND: The RNA polymerase of influenza virus is a heterotrimeric complex of PB1, PB2 and PA subunits which cooperate in the transcription and replication of the viral genome. Previous research has shown that the N-terminal region of the PA subunit of influenza A/WSN/33 (H1N1) virus is involved in promoter binding. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Here we extend our studies of the influenza RNA polymerase to that of influenza strains A/HongKong/156/97 (H5N1) and A/Vietnam/1194/04 (H5N1). Both H5N1 strains, originally isolated from patients in 1997 and 2004, showed significantly higher polymerase activity compared with two classical human strains, A/WSN/33 (H1N1) and A/NT/60/68 (H3N2) in vitro. This increased polymerase activity correlated with enhanced promoter binding. The N-terminal region of the PA subunit was the major determinant of this enhanced promoter activity. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Overall we suggest that the N-terminal region of the PA subunit of two recent H5N1 strains can influence promoter binding and we speculate this may be a factor in their virulence.
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Authors | Takahito Kashiwagi, Bo Wah Leung, Tao Deng, Hualan Chen, George G Brownlee |
Journal | PloS one
(PLoS One)
Vol. 4
Issue 5
Pg. e5473
( 2009)
ISSN: 1932-6203 [Electronic] United States |
PMID | 19421324
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
- Cross-Linking Reagents
- PA protein, influenza viruses
- RNA, Viral
- Ribonucleoproteins
- Viral Proteins
- RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase
- DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases
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Topics |
- Animals
- Chick Embryo
(cytology, virology)
- Chickens
- Cross-Linking Reagents
- DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases
(genetics, metabolism)
- Humans
- Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype
(enzymology, genetics)
- Kidney
(cytology, virology)
- Promoter Regions, Genetic
(physiology)
- RNA, Viral
(metabolism)
- RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase
(genetics, metabolism)
- Ribonucleoproteins
(genetics, metabolism)
- Transcription, Genetic
- Ultraviolet Rays
- Viral Proteins
(genetics, metabolism)
- Virus Replication
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