A stuttering model for paramyxovirus P mRNA editing.

Abstract

Paramyxovirus P genes are transcribed into two mRNAs which differ from each other by either one (measles and Sendai virus) or two (SV5 and mumps virus) G insertions, and which code for either the P or V proteins. The G insertions always occur within a short run of Gs, and a stuttering mechanism for the insertions has been suggested in which the viral polymerase reiteratively copies a template C residue during mRNA synthesis. Support for this mechanism was obtained by varying the reaction conditions during Sendai virus mRNA synthesis in vitro. A stuttering model is proposed which accounts for how the ratio of inserted to uninserted mRNAs is controlled, and why some paramyxoviruses insert one G and others two Gs when insertions occur.

RNA editing in Newcastle disease virus

“…The precise nature of the signal is unclear, although the insertion of the non-templated G residues is thought to be due to a slippage or 'stuttering' of the transcriptase enzyme. The eight nucleotides preceding the insertion site in all NDV strains (3' UUUUUCCC 5', genomic sense) are identical to those in Sendai virus, and conform to a previously identified consensus sequence (3' UUYU-CCC 5') where Y is a pyrimidine base (Vidal et al, 1990b). However the site at 509 (3' UCCUUCCC 5'), proposed by Cattaneo et al (1989), does not conform to this consensus and does not appear to be used for editing.…”

“…A conserved sequence precedes the editing site in several paramyxoviruses and may act as a signal for mRNA editing (Vidal et al, 1990b). A pyrimidine-rich motif which is seen on the NDV genome preceding the insertion site (3' ACGAUUUUU 5') bears a limited degree of similarity to the polyadenylation signal (3' AAUCUUUUUU 5') found at the 5' end of all NDV genes.…”

“…The question of how certain viruses insert predominantly one G and others two has been addressed with regard to the stability of base pairing between the nascent mRNA molecule and the vRNA on rearward slippage by one or two bases (Vidal et al, 1990b).…”

Sequence comparison between the phosphoprotein mRNAs of human and bovine respiratory syncytial viruses identifies a divergent domain in the predicted protein

“…These insertions facilitate access to the second reading frame downstream. A stuttering model has been suggested for the insertion of a G residue(s) during mRNA synthesis (Vidal et al, 1990b). Sequencing of 20 other P mRNA cDNA clones of BRSV failed to reveal another clone with an insertion of C residues.…”

Antibodies to Borna Disease Virus in Infected Adult Rats: An Early Appearance of Anti-p10 Antibody and Recognition of Novel Virus-Specific Proteins in Infected Animal Brain Cells.

“…C ORF could produce at least four different proteins, C, C', Y1 and Y2 proteins, by initiation readthrough or ribosomal shunt mechanisms [6,7,18]. While, SeV P ORF, which corresponds to the p24 ORF of BDV in the genomic structure, could also express P, V, W and D proteins by editing of P gene mRNA [7,22]. Thus, such polycistronic coding viral mRNAs could be one of the key mechanisms for efficient viral replication.…”