title: Ribosomal frameshifting used in influenza A virus expression occurs within the sequence UCC_UUU_CGU and is in the +1 direction.
abstract: Programmed ribosomal frameshifting is used in the expression of many virus genes and some cellular genes. In eukaryotic systems, the most well-characterized mechanism involves -1 tandem tRNA slippage on an X_XXY_YYZ motif. By contrast, the mechanisms involved in programmed +1 (or -2) slippage are more varied and often poorly characterized. Recently, a novel gene, PA-X, was discovered in influenza A virus and found to be expressed via a shift to the +1 reading frame. Here, we identify, by mass spectrometric analysis, both the site (UCC_UUU_CGU) and direction (+1) of the frameshifting that is involved in PA-X expression. Related sites are identified in other virus genes that have previously been proposed to be expressed via +1 frameshifting. As these viruses infect insects (chronic bee paralysis virus), plants (fijiviruses and amalgamaviruses) and vertebrates (influenza A virus), such motifs may form a new class of +1 frameshift-inducing sequences that are active in diverse eukaryotes.
authors.affiliation: Division of Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QP, UK.
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Firth
authors.forename: B W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Jagger
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Wise
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Parsawar
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Wills
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Napthine
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Taubenberger
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Digard
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Atkins
mesh_terms: D018965:Frameshifting, Ribosomal / Q000502:physiology*; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral / Q000502:physiology*; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C573926:PA-X protein, influenza A virus; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins