The picornavirus avian encephalomyelitis virus possesses a hepatitis C virus-like internal ribosome entry site element.
Avian encephalomyelitis virus (AEV) is a picornavirus that causes disease in poultry worldwide, and flocks must be vaccinated for protection. AEV is currently classified within the hepatovirus genus, since its proteins are most closely related to those of hepatitis A virus (HAV). We now provide evidence that the 494-nucleotide-long 5' untranslated region of the AEV genome contains an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) element that functions efficiently in vitro and in mammalian cells. Unlike the HAV IRES, the AEV IRES is relatively short and functions in the presence of cleaved eIF4G and it is also resistant to an inhibitor of eIF4A. These properties are reminiscent of the recently discovered class of IRES elements within certain other picornaviruses, such as porcine teschovirus 1 (PTV-1). Like the PTV-1 IRES, the AEV IRES shows significant similarity to the hepatitis C virus (HCV) IRES in sequence, function, and predicted secondary structure. Furthermore, mutational analysis of the predicted pseudoknot structure at the 3' end of the AEV IRES lends support to the secondary structure we present. AEV is therefore another example of a picornavirus harboring an HCV-like IRES element within its genome, and thus, its classification within the hepatovirus genus may need to be reassessed in light of these findings.
Bakhshesh
Mehran
M
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey GU2 7XH, United Kingdom.
Groppelli
Elisabetta
E
Willcocks
Margaret M
MM
Royall
Elizabeth
E
Belsham
Graham J
GJ
Roberts
Lisa O
LO
D020121:5' Untranslated Regions / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence / Q000187:drug effects; D001350:Encephalomyelitis Virus, Avian / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D039601:Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D016679:Genome, Viral; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D010849:Picornaviridae / Q000235:genetics; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012270:Ribosomes / Q000378:metabolism*; D017423:Sequence Analysis, RNA
D020121:5' Untranslated Regions; D012367:RNA, Viral; D039601:Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4A