Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 4, 2025

Exploring Sequence Space to Identify Binding Sites for Regulatory RNA-Binding Proteins
Published on: August 9, 2019
The leader RNA of SARS-CoV-2 sequesters polypyrimidine tract binding protein (PTBP1) and influences pre-mRNA splicing
Noelia H Altina1, David G Maranon1, John R Anderson1
1Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA.
Abstract:
The large amount of viral RNA produced during infections has the potential to interact with and effectively sequester cellular RNA binding proteins, thereby influencing aspects of post-transcriptional gene regulation in the infected cell. Here we demonstrate that the abundant 5' leader RNA region of SARS-CoV-2 viral RNAs can interact with the cellular polypyrimidine tract binding protein (PTBP1). Interestingly, the effect of a knockdown of PTBP1 protein on cellular gene expression is also mimicked during SARS-CoV-2 infection, suggesting that this protein may be functionally sequestered by viral RNAs. Consistent with this model, the alternative splicing of mRNAs that is normally controlled by PTBP1 is dysregulated during SARS-CoV-2 infection. Collectively, these data suggest that the SARS-CoV-2 leader RNA sequesters the cellular PTBP1 protein during infection, resulting in significant impacts on the RNA biology of the host cell. These alterations in post-transcriptional gene regulation may play a role in SARS-CoV-2 mediated molecular pathogenesis.
Related Concept Videos
Chromatin Structure Regulates pre-mRNA Processing
The chromatin structure, especially...
RNA Splicing
Leaky Scanning
Alternative RNA Splicing
There are five types of alternative RNA splicing that vary in the ways the pre-mRNA segments are removed or retained in the mature mRNA. The first...
Types of RNA
Three main types of RNA are involved in protein synthesis: messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA). These RNAs perform diverse functions and can be broadly classified as protein-coding or non-coding RNA. Non-coding RNAs play important roles in the regulation of gene expression in response to developmental and environmental changes. Non-coding RNAs in prokaryotes can be manipulated to develop more effective antibacterial drugs for human or animal use.
RNA...
Bacterial RNA Polymerase
In most genes, the transcription site is a single base present upstream of the coding sequence. Though RNAP is a catalytically efficient enzyme, it does not recognize...

