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The accumulation of influenza A virus segment 7 spliced mRNAs is regulated by the NS1 protein

Nicole C Robb1, Ervin Fodor1

  • 1Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK.

The Journal of General Virology
|September 16, 2011
PubMed

Insights

The influenza A virus NS1 protein regulates the splicing of M1 mRNA. This regulation is dependent on NS1's RNA-binding ability, impacting viral gene expression.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Gene Expression

Background:

  • Influenza A virus M1 mRNA undergoes alternative splicing to produce various mRNA forms.
  • Both spliced and unspliced mRNAs encode functional proteins, indicating regulated splicing.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of the influenza A virus NS1 protein in the regulation of M1 mRNA splicing.
  • To determine if NS1's RNA-binding ability is crucial for its effect on splicing.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized radioactively labeled primers to track spliced and unspliced M segment mRNAs.
  • Employed viral infection and ribonucleoprotein (RNP) reconstitution assays.
  • Assessed the impact of NS1 protein co-expression on mRNA accumulation.

Main Results:

  • Co-expression of the NS1 protein significantly altered the accumulation of spliced M1 mRNAs in RNP reconstitution assays.
  • The observed effect of NS1 on splicing was dependent on its RNA-binding capability.
  • Un-spliced and spliced M segment mRNAs accumulation was modulated by NS1.

Conclusions:

  • The influenza A virus NS1 protein plays a regulatory role in the alternative splicing of M1 mRNA.
  • NS1's RNA-binding activity is essential for its function in modulating M1 mRNA splicing.
  • These findings highlight a novel mechanism of viral gene expression control by NS1.

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