Role of the C terminus of Lassa virus L protein in viral mRNA synthesis.
The N terminus of arenavirus L protein contains an endonuclease presumably involved in "cap snatching." Here, we employed the Lassa virus replicon system to map other L protein sites that might be involved in this mechanism. Residues Phe-1979, Arg-2018, Phe-2071, Asp-2106, Trp-2173, Tyr-2179, Arg-2200, and Arg-2204 were important for viral mRNA synthesis but dispensable for genome replication. Thus, the C terminus of L protein is involved in the mRNA synthesis process, potentially by mediating cap binding.
Department of Virology, Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany.
Maria
M
Lehmann
Department of Virology, Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany.
Meike
M
Pahlmann
Department of Virology, Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany.
Hanna
H
Jérôme
Department of Virology, Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany.
Carola
C
Busch
Department of Virology, Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany.
Michaela
M
Lelke
Department of Virology, Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany guenther@bni.uni-hamburg.de.
Stephan
S
Günther
D002460:Cell Line; D006801:Humans; D007836:Lassa virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014779:Virus Replication
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014764:Viral Proteins