title: Development and RNA-synthesizing activity of coronavirus replication structures in the absence of protein synthesis.
abstract: The RNA replication and transcription complex of coronaviruses is associated with an elaborate reticulovesicular network (RVN) of modified endoplasmic reticulum. Using cycloheximide and puromycin, we have studied the effect of translation inhibition on the RNA synthesis of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus and mouse hepatitis virus. Both inhibitors prevented the usual exponential increase in viral RNA synthesis, with immunofluorescence and electron microscopy indicating that RVN development came to a standstill. Nevertheless, limited RNA synthesis was supported, implying that continued translation is not an absolute requirement and suggesting a direct link between RVN formation and accumulation of coronavirus proteins.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Virology Laboratory, Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Sjoerd H E
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: van den Worm
authors.forename: Kèvin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Knoops
authors.forename: Jessika C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Zevenhoven-Dobbe
authors.forename: Corrine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Beugeling
authors.forename: Yvonne
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: van der Meer
authors.forename: A Mieke
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Mommaas
authors.forename: Eric J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Snijder
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D003513:Cycloheximide / Q000378:metabolism; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D006517:Murine hepatitis virus / Q000502:physiology*; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D011691:Puromycin / Q000378:metabolism; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D045473:Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / Q000502:physiology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014709:Vero Cells; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014764:Viral Proteins; D011691:Puromycin; D003513:Cycloheximide