A mutation in the short 5'-proximal open reading frame on Rous sarcoma virus RNA alters virus production.
The 5'-proximal open reading frame on Rous sarcoma virus RNA encodes a seven-amino-acid peptide and is conserved in all avian sarcoma-leukosis retroviruses. Ribosome-binding site analysis in intact chick cells showed that the 5'-proximal AUG codon is a strong site for initiation of translation in vivo. Removal of the 5'-proximal AUG codon by site-specific mutagenesis resulted in a virus with a reduced ability either to replicate or to transform a population of chicken embryo fibroblasts. These results establish a procedure for determining sites of ribosome binding and initiation of translation on mRNAs in intact eucaryotic cells and strongly suggest that the 5'-proximal open reading frame (or its AUG codon) on Rous sarcoma virus RNA has an important role in regulating viral activity.
Petersen
R B
RB
Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul 55108-1095.
Moustakas
A
A
Hackett
P B
PB
D000818:Animals; D001358:Avian Sarcoma Viruses / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D001483:Base Sequence; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002642:Chick Embryo; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003062:Codon / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D011132:Polyribosomes / Q000378:metabolism; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012270:Ribosomes / Q000378:metabolism; D014162:Transfection; D014779:Virus Replication
D003062:Codon; D012367:RNA, Viral