Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 22, 2026

In vitro Transcription and Capping of Gaussia Luciferase mRNA Followed by HeLa Cell Transfection
Published on: March 26, 2012
[Capping strategies in RNA viruses]
Mickaël Bouvet1, François Ferron, Isabelle Imbert
1Laboratoire CNRS - Architecture et fonction des macromolécules biologiques (AFMB), UMR 7257, groupe réplication virale, structures, mécanismes et drug-design, école supérieure d'ingénieurs de Luminy (ESIL) - Case 925, 163, avenue de Luminy, 13288 Marseille Cedex 09, France.
Abstract:
Most viruses use the mRNA-cap dependent cellular translation machinery to translate their mRNAs into proteins. The addition of a cap structure at the 5' end of mRNA is therefore an essential step for the replication of many virus families. Additionally, the cap protects the viral RNA from degradation by cellular nucleases and prevents viral RNA recognition by innate immunity mechanisms. Viral RNAs acquire their cap structure either by using cellular capping enzymes, by stealing the cap of cellular mRNA in a process named "cap snatching", or using virus-encoded capping enzymes. Many viral enzymes involved in this process have recently been structurally and functionally characterized. These studies have revealed original cap synthesis mechanisms and pave the way towards the development of specific inhibitors bearing antiviral drug potential.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Viruses with RNA Genomes
Size and Structure of Viral Genomes
Viral Structure
Leaky Scanning
Retrovirus Life Cycles
Pre-mRNA Processing: Modification of pre-mRNA Ends
Once about 20-40 ribonucleotides have been joined together by RNA polymerase, a group of enzymes adds a cap to the 5' end of the growing transcript. In this process, a 5' phosphate is replaced by modified guanosine that has a methyl group attached (7-methyl guanosine). This 5' cap helps the cell...

