Translational control of retroviruses.
All replication-competent retroviruses contain three main reading frames, gag, pol and env, which are used for the synthesis of structural proteins, enzymes and envelope proteins respectively. Complex retroviruses, such as lentiviruses, also code for regulatory and accessory proteins that have essential roles in viral replication. The concerted expression of these genes ensures the efficient polypeptide production required for the assembly and release of new infectious progeny virions. Retroviral protein synthesis takes place in the cytoplasm and depends exclusively on the translational machinery of the host infected cell. Therefore, not surprisingly, retroviruses have developed RNA structures and strategies to promote robust and efficient expression of viral proteins in a competitive cellular environment.
Balvay
Laurent
L
Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Unité de Virologie Humaine, IFR 128, Lyon, F-69364 France.
Lopez Lastra
Marcelo
M
Sargueil
Bruno
B
Darlix
Jean-Luc
JL
Ohlmann
Théophile
T
D000818:Animals; D005057:Eukaryotic Cells / Q000821:virology; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D006801:Humans; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D012190:Retroviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014779:Virus Replication
D012367:RNA, Viral; D014764:Viral Proteins