Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 16, 2026

Methods to Classify Cytoplasmic Foci as Mammalian Stress Granules
09:33

Methods to Classify Cytoplasmic Foci as Mammalian Stress Granules

Published on: May 12, 2017

Stable formation of compositionally unique stress granules in virus-infected cells

Joanna Piotrowska1, Spencer J Hansen, Nogi Park

  • 1University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, 425 N. Fifth Street, ABC1 Room 328, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA.

Journal of Virology
|January 29, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Poliovirus infection forms unique stress granules, which are mRNA storage sites. These granules are transcription-dependent and differ from those induced by other stresses.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Virology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Stress granules are dynamic cytoplasmic foci involved in mRNA regulation during cellular stress.
  • Viral infections can induce or modulate stress granule formation.
  • Poliovirus infection's impact on stress granule dynamics remains incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the mechanisms and characteristics of stress granule formation during poliovirus infection.
  • To compare stress granules formed during viral infection with those induced by other cellular stresses.

Main Methods:

  • Fluorescent in situ hybridization to detect viral RNA within stress granules.
  • Utilizing mutant proteins to assess the dependency of stress granule formation on specific factors.
  • Comparing stress granule formation under poliovirus infection, heat shock, and oxidative stress.

Main Results:

  • Stress granules in poliovirus-infected cells are stable and contain T-cell-restricted intracellular antigen 1 (TIA-1) and mRNA, but lack intact RasGAP SH3-domain binding protein 1 (G3BP).
  • Viral RNA is not significantly incorporated into these stress granules.
  • Poliovirus infection does not inhibit de novo stress granule formation induced by heat shock.
  • Stress granule formation during infection is more reliant on transcription than during other stress conditions.
  • Sam68 is recruited to stress granules during poliovirus infection, a phenomenon not observed with other stresses.

Conclusions:

  • Poliovirus infection induces the formation of transcription-dependent, compositionally distinct stress granules.
  • These unique stress granules differ in composition and formation requirements from those generated by non-viral stresses.
  • The findings reveal a novel pathway for stress granule formation modulated by viral infection.

More Related Videos

Immunofluorescence Analysis of Stress Granule Formation After Bacterial Challenge of Mammalian Cells11:37

Immunofluorescence Analysis of Stress Granule Formation After Bacterial Challenge of Mammalian Cells

Published on: July 3, 2017

Visualization of G3BP Stress Granules Dynamics in Live Primary Cells10:12

Visualization of G3BP Stress Granules Dynamics in Live Primary Cells

Published on: May 21, 2014

Related Concept Videos

Viral Structure00:56

Viral Structure

Viruses are extraordinarily diverse in shape and size, but they all have several structural features in common. All viruses have a core that contains a DNA- or RNA-based genome. The core is surrounded by a protective coat of proteins called the capsid. The capsid is composed of subunits called capsomeres. The capsid and genome-containing core are together known as the nucleocapsid.
Protein Complex Assembly02:41

Protein Complex Assembly

Proteins can form homomeric complexes with another unit of the same protein or heteromeric complexes with different types.  Most protein complexes self-assemble spontaneously via ordered pathways, while some proteins need assembly factors that guide their proper assembly. Despite the crowded intracellular environment, proteins usually interact with their correct partners and form functional complexes.
Many viruses self-assemble into a fully functional unit using the infected host cell to...
Inhibitors of Virion Maturation and Assembly01:19

Inhibitors of Virion Maturation and Assembly

As part of their replication cycle, certain viruses synthesize long precursor proteins called polyproteins within infected host cells. In human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), two major polyproteins are produced: Gag and Gag-Pol. The Gag polyprotein supplies the structural components of the virus, while Gag-Pol includes essential viral enzymes such as reverse transcriptase, integrase, and protease. After synthesis, these polyproteins move to the host cell membrane, where they assemble into an...
Overview of Secretory Vesicles01:33

Overview of Secretory Vesicles

Secretory vesicles, also known as dense core vesicles (DCVs), are membrane-bound vesicles that transport secretory proteins, such as hormones or neurotransmitters. Regulated secretory vesicles transport proteins from the trans-Golgi network to the exterior of the cell. Proteins present in regulated secretory vesicles are required to be rapidly exocytosed in large amounts upon a specific stimulus.
Various proteins regulate the aggregation of molecules inside the secretory vesicles. Chromogranins...
Intralumenal Vesicles and Multivesicular Bodies01:38

Intralumenal Vesicles and Multivesicular Bodies

Intraluminal vesicles (ILVs) are small vesicles 50-80 nm in diameter formed during the maturation of early endosomes. A specialized endosome containing numerous ILVs is called a multivesicular body (MVB). ILVs contain internalized molecules such as antigens, nucleic acids, proteins, and metabolites. Some of these molecules are released from the MVBs inside exosomes and are transported to other cells. Other MVBs contain molecules that are retained in the ILVs and are later degraded within the...