Journal
EMBO JOURNAL
Volume 28, Issue 12, Pages 1803-1811Publisher
WILEY
DOI: 10.1038/emboj.2009.138
Keywords
influenza virus; interface; mutant; RNA polymerase; structure
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Influenza virus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase is a multi-functional heterotrimer, which uses a 'cap-snatching' mechanism to produce viral mRNA. Host cell mRNA is cleaved to yield a cap-bearing oligonucleotide, which can be extended using viral genomic RNA as a template. The cap-binding and endonuclease activities are only activated once viral genomic RNA is bound. This requires signalling from the RNA-binding PB1 subunit to the cap-binding PB2 subunit, and the interface between these two subunits is essential for the polymerase activity. We have defined this interaction surface by protein crystallography and tested the effects of mutating contact residues on the function of the holo-enzyme. This novel interface is surprisingly small, yet, it has a crucial function in regulating the 250 kDa polymerase complex and is completely conserved among avian and human influenza viruses. The EMBO Journal (2009) 28, 1803-1811. doi:10.1038/emboj.2009.138; Published online 21 May 2009
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