RNA Replication and Membrane Modification Require the Same Functions of Alphavirus Nonstructural Proteins

Katri Kallio; Kirsi Hellström; Eija Jokitalo; Tero Ahola

doi:10.1128/JVI.02484-15

RNA Replication and Membrane Modification Require the Same Functions of Alphavirus Nonstructural Proteins

J Virol. 2015 Nov 18;90(3):1687-92. doi: 10.1128/JVI.02484-15. Print 2016 Feb 1.

Authors

Katri Kallio¹, Kirsi Hellström¹, Eija Jokitalo², Tero Ahola³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
² Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
³ Department of Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland [email protected].

Abstract

The alphaviruses induce membrane invaginations known as spherules as their RNA replication sites. Here, we show that inactivation of any function (polymerase, helicase, protease, or membrane association) essential for RNA synthesis also prevents the generation of spherule structures in a Semliki Forest virus trans-replication system. Mutants capable of negative-strand synthesis, including those defective in RNA capping, gave rise to spherules. Recruitment of RNA to membranes in the absence of spherule formation was not detected.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Cell Membrane / metabolism*
RNA, Viral / metabolism*
Semliki forest virus / physiology*
Viral Nonstructural Proteins / metabolism*
Virus Replication*

Substances

RNA, Viral
Viral Nonstructural Proteins

Grants and funding

The funders had no role in study design, data collection and interpretation, or the decision to submit the work for publication.