title: Decapitation: poxvirus makes RNA lose its head.
abstract: Cellular infection by vaccinia virus involves the controlled degradation of early, intermediate and late viral mRNAs, and increased turnover of host mRNAs. A new study has identified a key mediator of both these processes. A Nudix hydrolase encoded by the viral D10 gene decaps these mRNAs, thus targeting them for destruction independently of cellular systems. This finding has several implications for virus evolution and the regulation of RNA decapping.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool, L69 7ZB, UK. agmclen@liv.ac.uk
authors.forename: Alexander G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: McLennan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D011755:Pyrophosphatases / Q000378:metabolism; D012315:RNA Caps / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014616:Vaccinia virus / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics*; D000096964:Nudix Hydrolases
chemical_list: D011755:Pyrophosphatases; D012315:RNA Caps; D000096964:Nudix Hydrolases