The Bunyamwera virus mRNA transcription signal resides within both the 3' and the 5' terminal regions and allows ambisense transcription from a model RNA segment.
Bunyamwera virus (BUNV) is the prototype of the Bunyaviridae family of RNA viruses. BUNV genomic strands are templates for both replication and transcription, whereas the antigenomic RNAs serve only as templates for replication. By mutagenesis of model templates, we showed that the BUNV transcription promoter comprises elements within both the 3' and the 5' nontranslated regions. Using this information, we designed a model ambisense BUNV segment that transcribed BUNV S mRNA from the genomic strand and green fluorescent protein (GFP) mRNA from the antigenome. Demonstration of GFP expression showed that this ambisense strategy represents a viable approach for generating BUNV segments able to express additional proteins.
Barr
John N
JN
Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama School of Medicine, BBRB Room 360/Box 17, 845 19th Street South, Birmingham AL 35294-2170, USA. jbarr@uab.edu
Rodgers
John W
JW
Wertz
Gail W
GW
D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D020121:5' Untranslated Regions; D001483:Base Sequence; D002042:Bunyamwera virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D020121:5' Untranslated Regions; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012367:RNA, Viral; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins