title: [Capping strategies in RNA viruses].
abstract: Most viruses use the mRNA-cap dependent cellular translation machinery to translate their mRNAs into proteins. The addition of a cap structure at the 5' end of mRNA is therefore an essential step for the replication of many virus families. Additionally, the cap protects the viral RNA from degradation by cellular nucleases and prevents viral RNA recognition by innate immunity mechanisms. Viral RNAs acquire their cap structure either by using cellular capping enzymes, by stealing the cap of cellular mRNA in a process named "cap snatching", or using virus-encoded capping enzymes. Many viral enzymes involved in this process have recently been structurally and functionally characterized. These studies have revealed original cap synthesis mechanisms and pave the way towards the development of specific inhibitors bearing antiviral drug potential.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire CNRS - Architecture et fonction des macromolécules biologiques (AFMB), UMR 7257, groupe réplication virale, structures, mécanismes et drug-design, école supérieure d'ingénieurs de Luminy (ESIL) - Case 925, 163, avenue de Luminy, 13288 Marseille Cedex 09, France.
authors.forename: Mickaël
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bouvet
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ferron
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Imbert
authors.forename: Laure
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gluais
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Selisko
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Coutard
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Canard
authors.forename: Etienne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Decroly
mesh_terms: D017766:Acid Anhydride Hydrolases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D005057:Eukaryotic Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D020836:Protein Structure, Quaternary / Q000502:physiology; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary / Q000502:physiology; D012315:RNA Caps / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D012323:RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D012328:RNA Viruses / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012315:RNA Caps; D012367:RNA, Viral; D017766:Acid Anhydride Hydrolases; C023090:RNA triphosphatase