Four novel U RNAs are encoded by a herpesvirus.
Marmoset T lymphocytes transformed by herpesvirus saimiri contain the first virally encoded U RNAs (called HSURs) to be identified. HSURs assemble into small nuclear ribonucleoproteins of low abundance (less than or equal to 2 x 10(4) copies/cell). They bind proteins with Sm determinants and acquire a 5' trimethylguanosine cap structure. The sequences of HSUR 1 (143 nucleotides), HSUR 2 (115 nucleotides), HSUR 3 (76 nucleotides), and HSUR 4 (106 nucleotides) are related to each other but are distinct from any previously characterized cellular U RNA. The viral genes encoding the HSURs possess conserved enhancer, promoter, and 3' end formation signals unique to U RNA genes. HSUR 1 and HSUR 2 have a similar 5' end sequence that exhibits perfect complementarity to the highly conserved AAUAAA polyadenylation signal. Oligonucleotide directed RNAase H degradation indicates that this 5' end region is available for base pairing interactions within the HSUR 1 and HSUR 2 snRNP particles.
Lee
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SI
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06510.
Murthy
S C
SC
Trimble
J J
JJ
Desrosiers
R C
RC
Steitz
J A
JA
D001482:Base Composition; D001483:Base Sequence; D002460:Cell Line; D005814:Genes, Viral; D006567:Herpesvirus 2, Saimiriine / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D012319:RNA Polymerase II / Q000378:metabolism; D012342:RNA, Small Nuclear / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*
D012342:RNA, Small Nuclear; D012319:RNA Polymerase II