Proximity between the cap and 5' epsilon stem-loop structure is critical for the suppression of pgRNA translation by the hepatitis B viral polymerase.

Abstract

The pregenomic RNA (pgRNA) of hepatitis B virus (HBV) serves as an mRNA as well as an RNA template for viral reverse transcription. We previously reported that HBV Pol (polymerase) suppresses translation of the pgRNA through a mechanism involving the 5 epsilon sequence [Virology 373:112-123(2008)]. Here, we found that the recognition of the 5 epsilon stem-loop structure by HBV Pol is essential for the translation suppression. Intriguingly, the translation suppression was observed only when the 5 epsilon sequence was positioned within approximately 60 nucleotides from the 5' end, which is striking reminiscent of the pgRNA encapsidation. This finding implicates that the translation suppression is mechanistically linked to encapsidation of the pgRNA. However, unexpectedly, the HBV Pol-eIF4E interaction, which we reported recently [J. Virol. 84:52-58(2010)], is not required for the translation suppression. Instead, the data suggested that the cap proximity of 5 epsilon sequence is necessary and sufficient for the translation suppression.

• Authors: Dong-Kyun Ryu, Byung-Yoon Ahn, Wang-Shick Ryu
• Journal: Virology (Virology) Vol. 406 Issue 1 Pg. 56-64 (Oct 10 2010) ISSN: 1096-0341 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 20667576 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4E
• Gene Products, pol
• P protein, Hepatitis B virus
• RNA Caps
• RNA, Viral

Topics

• Base Sequence
• Binding Sites
• Cell Line
• Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4E (metabolism)
• Gene Products, pol (metabolism)
• Hepatitis B virus (enzymology, genetics)
• Humans
• Models, Biological
• Nucleic Acid Conformation
• Protein Biosynthesis
• RNA Caps (chemistry, genetics, metabolism)
• RNA, Viral (chemistry, genetics, metabolism)