The matrix (M) protein of vesicular stomatitis virus regulates transcription.
Temperature-sensitive mutants of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) belonging to complementation group III contain a lesion in the matrix (M) protein. This results in a 2--5 fold increase in transcription at the nonpermissive temperature. Co-infection of cells with one of these mutants and wild-type virus reverses this mutant phenotype. Separation of the transcriptional and translational products from mutant-infected cells reveals an overall increase in each of the viral mRNA species concomitant with degradation of the M protein at the nonpermissive temperature. The increase in mRNA, however, does not lead to increased synthesis of viral proteins. Quantitation of individual mRNA species indicates that M protein acts as a direct inhibitor of transcription as well as an attenuator of sequential transcription.
D005799:Genes, Dominant; D009154:Mutation; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000502:physiology; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014721:Vesicular stomatitis Indiana virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D014779:Virus Replication
D010750:Phosphoproteins; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014764:Viral Proteins