The action of ribonuclease T1 on reovirus double-stranded RNA.

A small number of nucleotides are released from highly purified reovirus double-stranded RNA by ribonuclease T₁ in the presence of 0.3 m NaCl. These nucleotides include ppGp, which is quantitatively released from the RNA, and lesser amounts of ApUpGp, Gp, and ApGp. The same products are released from each of the three size classes of double-stranded RNA segments. In experiments involving specific labeling of termini, the only demonstrable sites of hydrolysis were at the 5′ termini of the minus strands. The limited extent of ribonuclease T₁ hydrolysis and localization of its action at the 5′ termini of the minus strands are compatible with a perfect duplex structure for the double-stranded RNA segments wherein the secondary structure of the termini is less stable than that of internal regions.     

Blocked and unblocked 5' termini in reovirus genome RNA

Uniformly ³²P-labeled, double-stranded genome RNA isolated from purified reovirus contains two types of 5′-terminal sequences. One strand contains a phosphatase-resistant 5′-terminal structure, XpppG^*pCpU, which is also present in the viral mRNA. The 5′ blocking group, X, is removed by β-elimination indicating that it is a nucleoside containing free 2′,3′-hydroxyls. G^*pC is an alkaline-resistant, 2′-O-methylated sequence. The other strand contains a phosphatase-sensitive 5′ sequence, ppGpPupPyp. The results are discussed in relation to blocked 5′-terminal structures in other viral and cellular RNAs.     

RNA synthesis in a cage--structural studies of reovirus polymerase lambda3

The reovirus polymerase and those of other dsRNA viruses function within the confines of a protein capsid to transcribe the tightly packed dsRNA genome segments. The crystal structure of the reovirus polymerase, lambda3, determined at 2.5 A resolution, shows a fingers-palm-thumb core, similar to those of other viral polymerases, surrounded by major N- and C-terminal elaborations, which create a cage-like structure, with four channels leading to the catalytic site. This "caged" polymerase has allowed us to visualize the results of several rounds of RNA polymerization directly in the crystals. A 5' cap binding site on the surface of lambda3 suggests a template retention mechanism by which attachment of the 5' end of the plus-sense strand facilitates insertion of the 3' end of the minus-sense strand into the template channel.     

Mutagenic specificity in reovirus.

Mutagenic specificity in response to chemical mutagens has been observed with certain temperature-sensitive mutants of reovirus type 3. One mutant induced by nitrous acid reverted specifically with nitrous acid. Three nitrosoguanidine-induced mutants reverted after nitrous acid treatment. These findings thus suggest that analysis of chemical induction of reversion from the temperature-sensitive phenotype may be a useful approach for studying the nature of mutation in animal viruses.     

An identical 3'-terminal sequence in the ten reovirus genome RNA segments

An identical oligonucleotide, PyrpApApC, is released from the 3′-ends of all ten reovirus genome double-stranded RNA segments by digestion with pancreatic RNase. This sequence may be the recognition site for the virion-associated RNA polymerase or involved in linking the genome segments within the virion.     

m7G5'ppp5'GmptcpUp at the 5' terminus of reovirus messenger RNA.

In the presence of S-adenosyl methionine the 5' terminal guanosine residue of in vitro synthesized reovirus mRNA becomes methylated at the 2'-OH position. In addition, 7-methyl guanylic acid is condensed covalently at the 5' terminus resulting in the formation of a 5' to 5' triphosphate bridge. Analysis of the 5' terminal sequence of methylated reovirus mRNA revealed that it has the structure m7G5'ppp5'GmpCpUp.     

草鱼呼肠孤病毒RNA聚合酶基因的表达与产物纯化

草鱼呼肠孤病毒是引起草鱼出血病的主要病原,隶属于呼肠孤病毒科水生呼肠孤病毒属。序列分析表明,GCRVS2片段长为3877核苷酸,编码一个分子量为138kDa的蛋白VP2,具有RNA聚合酶性质。为进一步了解该病毒RNA聚合酶特性,本研究在对GCRV RNA聚合酶基因(GCRV—RdRp)保守区(约1．5kb)重组质粒pR／RRp高效表达的基础上,分别构建了编码GCRV RNA聚合酶保守区N端与C端部分基因的pR／RRpN及pR／RRpC重组表达载体,并在原核细胞中获得成功表达。筛选的重组表达菌株经IPTG诱导培养,得到分子量分别为98kDa、103kDa的目的表达融合蛋白。Western blot分析表明,该表达产物与兔抗GCRV—VP2血清呈阳性反应。通过ProBond柱亲和层析,纯化了融合有6个组氨酸的重组表达产物,并获得约90％纯的目的蛋白。上述结果为GCRV RNA聚合酶特性分析提供了依据。     

草鱼呼肠孤病毒RNA聚合酶基因的表达与产物纯化

草鱼呼肠孤病毒是引起草鱼出血病的主要病原,隶属于呼肠孤病毒科水生呼肠孤病毒属.序列分析表明,GCRV S2 片段长为3 877核苷酸,编码一个分子量为138kDa 的蛋白VP2,具有RNA聚合酶性质.为进一步了解该病毒 RNA聚合酶特性,本研究在对GCRV RNA聚合酶基因(GCRV-RdRp)保守区(约1.5kb)重组质粒pR/RRp高效表达的基础上,分别构建了编码GCRV RNA聚合酶保守区N端与C端部分基因的 pR/RRpN及pR/RRpC重组表达载体,并在原核细胞中获得成功表达.筛选的重组表达菌株经IPTG诱导培养,得到分子量分别为98kDa、103kDa的目的表达融合蛋白.Western blot分析表明,该表达产物与兔抗GCRV-VP2血清呈阳性反应.通过ProBond柱亲和层析,纯化了融合有6个组氨酸的重组表达产物,并获得约90%纯的目的蛋白.上述结果为GCRV RNA聚合酶特性分析提供了依据.     

Subunit structure of the reovirus spike.

Cross-linking reovirus spike protein with the bifunctional reagent dimethyl suberimidate revealed that each spike was composed of a pentameric aggregate of polypeptide lambda 2.