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Updated: Jun 10, 2026
12:12
Analysis of Termination of Transcription Using BrUTP-strand-specific Transcription Run-on (TRO) Approach
Published on: March 12, 2017
Structural features in the Rous sarcoma virus RNA stability element are necessary for sensing the correct termination
Johanna B Withers1, Karen L Beemon
1Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N, Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.
Retrovirology
|August 7, 2010
Summary
Rous sarcoma virus uses a stability element to evade nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD). This element masks premature stop codons, preventing viral RNA degradation by host cell machinery.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Virology
- RNA Biology
Background:
- Nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) is a crucial cellular surveillance pathway that degrades aberrant mRNAs with premature termination codons.
- Retroviral RNAs possess unique features like extended 3' UTRs and retained introns, potentially marking them for NMD-mediated degradation.
- Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) RNA, despite these features, evades NMD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mechanism by which RSV evades NMD.
- To identify and characterize the RNA elements responsible for NMD evasion in RSV.
Main Methods:
- Directed mutagenesis of RSV RNA to define the features of the identified stability element.
- Analysis of RNA stability and NMD pathway interactions.
Main Results:
- A specific RNA stability element (RSE) was identified downstream of the gag termination codon in RSV.
- The minimal RSE is 155 nucleotides and functions independently of the immediate stop codon context.
- Potential stability elements were also suggested in the 3' UTRs of RSV pol and src mRNAs.
Conclusions:
- RSV stability elements likely function as NMD insulators, shielding preceding stop codons from the NMD surveillance machinery.
- These elements are critical for maintaining the stability of viral RNA and ensuring efficient viral replication.
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