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A novel viral RNA helicase with an independent translation enhancement activity
Author(s) -
Abraham Ambily,
Savithri Handanahal S.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1002/1873-3468.12145
Subject(s) - rna helicase a , helicase , rna , degradosome , biology , translation (biology) , rna dependent rna polymerase , microbiology and biotechnology , virology , biochemistry , chemistry , messenger rna , gene
RNA helicases have not been identified among negative sense RNA viruses. In this study, it is shown that Nonstructural protein (NSs) of Groundnut bud necrosis virus (GBNV) acts as a Mg 2+ ‐ and ATP‐dependent bipolar RNA helicase. Biophysical and biochemical analysis of the deletion mutants (NΔ124 NSs, CΔ80 NSs) revealed that both the N‐ and C‐terminal residues are required for substrate binding, oligomerization and helicase activity, but are dispensable for ATPase activity. Interestingly, NSs could enhance the translation of RNA (~ 10‐fold) independent of its helicase activity. This is the first report of a RNA helicase from negative strand RNA viruses.