Back-priming mode of phi6 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase.

Journal article

The RNA-dependent RNA polymerase of the double-stranded RNA bacteriophage phi6 is capable of primer-independent initiation, as are many RNA polymerases. The structure of this polymerase revealed an initiation platform, composed of a loop in the C-terminal domain (QYKW, aa 629-632), that was essential for de novo initiation. A similar element has been identified in hepatitis C virus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. Biochemical studies have addressed the role of this platform, revealing that a mutant version can utilize a back-priming initiation mechanism, where the 3' terminus of the template adopts a hairpin-like conformation. Here, the mechanism of back-primed initiation is studied further by biochemical and structural methods.

Authors: Laurila, MR; Salgado, P; Stuart, D; Grimes, J; Bamford, D

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Journal of general virology
• Volume: 86
• Issue: Pt 2
• Pages: 521-526
• Publication date: 2005-02-01
• DOI: 10.1099/vir.0.80492-0
• EISSN: 1465-2099
• ISSN: 0022-1317
• Language: English
• Keywords: Models, Molecular; Molecular Sequence Data; Bacteriophage phi 6; Mutation; Base Sequence; Pseudomonas; RNA Replicase; Templates, Genetic; RNA, Viral; Nucleic Acid Conformation