RNA Replication and Membrane Modification Require the Same Functions of Alphavirus Nonstructural Proteins |
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| Authors: | Katri Kallio Kirsi Hellstr?m Eija Jokitalo Tero Ahola |
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| Affiliation: | aDepartment of Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland;bInstitute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland |
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| Abstract: | The alphaviruses induce membrane invaginations known as spherules as their RNA replication sites. Here, we show that inactivation of any function (polymerase, helicase, protease, or membrane association) essential for RNA synthesis also prevents the generation of spherule structures in a Semliki Forest virus trans-replication system. Mutants capable of negative-strand synthesis, including those defective in RNA capping, gave rise to spherules. Recruitment of RNA to membranes in the absence of spherule formation was not detected. |
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