Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Viruses with RNA Genomes

Viruses with RNA Genomes

RNA viruses are categorized into positive-strand, negative-strand, or double-stranded groups based on their genomic structure and replication mechanisms. This classification dictates how they exploit host cellular machinery for protein synthesis and replication. Some RNA viruses also utilize reverse transcription as part of their life cycle, further diversifying their replication strategies.Positive-Strand RNA VirusesPositive-strand RNA viruses have genomes that function directly as messenger...

Pre-mRNA Processing: Modification of pre-mRNA Ends

Pre-mRNA Processing: Modification of pre-mRNA Ends

In eukaryotic cells, transcripts made by RNA polymerase are modified and processed before exiting the nucleus. Unprocessed RNA is called precursor mRNA or pre-mRNA to distinguish it from mature mRNA.
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...

pre-mRNA Processing

pre-mRNA Processing

In eukaryotic cells, transcripts made by RNA polymerase are modified and processed before exiting the nucleus. Unprocessed RNA is called precursor mRNA or pre-mRNA to distinguish it from mature mRNA.
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 to it (7-Methyl...

Retrovirus Life Cycles

Retrovirus Life Cycles

Retroviruses have a single-stranded RNA genome that undergoes a special form of replication. Once the retrovirus has entered the host cell, an enzyme called reverse transcriptase synthesizes double-stranded DNA from the retroviral RNA genome. This DNA copy of the genome is then integrated into the host’s genome inside the nucleus via an enzyme called integrase. Consequently, the retroviral genome is transcribed into RNA whenever the host’s genome is transcribed, allowing the...

DNA Packaging

DNA Packaging

Viral Structure

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.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Atomic-Level Regiospecific Engineering of Asymmetric Acceptors for Efficient Organic Solar Cells With Reduced Energetic Disorder.

Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)·2026

Same author

Leptin in Obesity-Related Heart Failure: Pathophysiological Mechanisms and Therapeutic Implications.

Comprehensive Physiology·2026

Same author

Correction to: Inhibition of USP30 Promotes Mitophagy by Regulating Ubiquitination of MFN2 by Parkin to Attenuate Early Brain Injury after SAH.

Translational stroke research·2026

Same author

The role of 5-methylcytosine regulator-related genes in diagnostic and immune regulatory functions in atherosclerosis.

Frontiers in immunology·2026

Same author

Hydrogen Attenuates Oxidative Damage via NRF2-Mediated Mitophagy after Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

Antioxidants & redox signaling·2025

Same author

Dimeric Acceptors Featuring an Electron-Rich Fused-Ring Linker Enable High-Efficiency and Stable Organic Solar Cells and Modules.

Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 28, 2025

In vitro Transcription and Capping of Gaussia Luciferase mRNA Followed by HeLa Cell Transfection

In vitro Transcription and Capping of Gaussia Luciferase mRNA Followed by HeLa Cell Transfection

Published on: March 26, 2012

Sequestering the 5'-cap for viral RNA packaging.

Pengfei Ding¹, Michael F Summers¹

¹Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

Bioessays : News and Reviews in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology

|September 14, 2022

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Viruses and retrotransposons control RNA 5' cap accessibility to balance translation and packaging needs. This selective cap sequestration ensures viral RNA is correctly processed for replication and assembly into new viruses.

Keywords:

5′-cap RNA packaging RNA virus cap sequestration translation regulation

More Related Videos

Generation and Assembly of Virus-Specific Nucleocapsids of the Respiratory Syncytial Virus

Generation and Assembly of Virus-Specific Nucleocapsids of the Respiratory Syncytial Virus

Published on: July 27, 2021

Reverse Genetics Mediated Recovery of Infectious Murine Norovirus

Reverse Genetics Mediated Recovery of Infectious Murine Norovirus

Published on: June 24, 2012

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Aug 28, 2025

In vitro Transcription and Capping of Gaussia Luciferase mRNA Followed by HeLa Cell Transfection

In vitro Transcription and Capping of Gaussia Luciferase mRNA Followed by HeLa Cell Transfection

Published on: March 26, 2012

Generation and Assembly of Virus-Specific Nucleocapsids of the Respiratory Syncytial Virus

Generation and Assembly of Virus-Specific Nucleocapsids of the Respiratory Syncytial Virus

Published on: July 27, 2021

Reverse Genetics Mediated Recovery of Infectious Murine Norovirus

Reverse Genetics Mediated Recovery of Infectious Murine Norovirus

Published on: June 24, 2012

Area of Science:

Molecular Biology
Virology
Genetics

Background:

Many viruses utilize 5' RNA capping to engage eukaryotic translation machinery for replication.
Viral RNAs must also be packaged into progeny virions, a process potentially hindered by the 5' cap.
Human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) employs 5' cap sequestration to differentiate RNA functions.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate mechanisms controlling 5' cap accessibility in viruses and retrotransposons.
To explore how viruses balance RNA translation and packaging requirements.
To test the hypothesis that cap sequestration facilitates selective RNA packaging.

Main Methods:

Literature review of studies on viral and retrotransposon RNA processing.
Comparative analysis of RNA capping and packaging strategies across different viruses.
Examination of mechanisms for controlling 5' cap accessibility.

Main Results:

Viruses and retrotransposons exhibit diverse strategies for regulating 5' cap accessibility.
These mechanisms allow for the segregation of RNAs between translation and packaging pathways.
Evidence supports the role of cap removal or sequestration in preventing premature cellular RNA processing.

Conclusions:

Multiple viruses and retrotransposons have evolved sophisticated mechanisms to control 5' cap accessibility.
This control is crucial for distinguishing between RNAs destined for translation and those for packaging.
Cap sequestration is a key strategy enabling viral RNAs to evade cellular machinery during packaging.