title: Back-priming mode of phi6 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase.
abstract: The RNA-dependent RNA polymerase of the double-stranded RNA bacteriophage phi6 is capable of primer-independent initiation, as are many RNA polymerases. The structure of this polymerase revealed an initiation platform, composed of a loop in the C-terminal domain (QYKW, aa 629-632), that was essential for de novo initiation. A similar element has been identified in hepatitis C virus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. Biochemical studies have addressed the role of this platform, revealing that a mutant version can utilize a back-priming initiation mechanism, where the 3' terminus of the template adopts a hairpin-like conformation. Here, the mechanism of back-primed initiation is studied further by biochemical and structural methods.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biotechnology and Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Viikki Biocenter, PO Box 56 (Viikinkaari 5), 00014 University of Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Minni R L
authors.initials: MRL
authors.lastname: Laurila
authors.affiliation: Division of Structural Biology, The Henry Wellcome Building for Genomic Medicine, Oxford University, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK.
authors.forename: Paula S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Salgado
authors.affiliation: Division of Structural Biology, The Henry Wellcome Building for Genomic Medicine, Oxford University, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK.
authors.forename: David I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Stuart
authors.affiliation: Division of Structural Biology, The Henry Wellcome Building for Genomic Medicine, Oxford University, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK.
authors.forename: Jonathan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Grimes
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biotechnology and Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Viikki Biocenter, PO Box 56 (Viikinkaari 5), 00014 University of Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Dennis H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Bamford
mesh_terms: D017126:Bacteriophage phi 6 / Q000378:metabolism*; D001483:Base Sequence; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D011549:Pseudomonas / Q000821:virology; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013698:Templates, Genetic
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase