Open AccessModel Suggesting that Replication of Influenza Virus Is Regulated by Stabilization of Replicative Intermediates
Author(s) -
Frank T. Vreede,
Tanis E. Jung,
George G. Brownlee
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.617
H-Index - 292
eISSN - 1070-6321
pISSN - 0022-538X
DOI - 10.1128/jvi.78.17.9568-9572.2004
Subject(s) - biology , transcription (linguistics) , polymerase , rna dependent rna polymerase , viral replication , virology , rna polymerase , rna , nucleoprotein , influenza a virus , virus , orthomyxoviridae , rna polymerase i , microbiology and biotechnology , gene , genetics , philosophy , linguistics
The RNA-dependent RNA polymerase of influenza A virus is responsible for both transcription and replication of negative-sense viral RNA. It is thought that a "switching" mechanism regulates the transition between these activities. We demonstrate that, in the presence of preexisting viral RNA polymerase and nucleoprotein (NP), influenza A virus synthesizes both mRNA (transcription) and cRNA (replication) early in infection. We suggest that there may be no switch regulating the initiation of RNA synthesis and present a model suggesting that nascent cRNA is degraded by host cell nucleases unless it is stabilized by newly synthesized viral RNA polymerase and NP.