Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 16, 2026
Optical Tweezers to Study RNA-Protein Interactions in Translation Regulation
Published on: February 12, 2022
A potential RNA-RNA distal interaction competing with a functional pseudoknot in the 3'-untranslated region of
Sergio López-Núñez1,2, Álvaro Simba-Lahuasi1, Ángel Cantero-Camacho1
1Centro de Investigación Traslacional San Alberto Magno, Universidad Católica de Valencia, 46001 Valencia, Spain.
Abstract:
In the 3' untranslated region of betacoronaviruses, a pseudoknot involving stem-loop 3SL2 has been proposed to form a binding site for the viral RNA polymerase enabling the initiation of negative-sense RNA synthesis during the processes of virus replication and discontinuous transcription. Based on bioinformatic analyses and a mutagenesis strategy monitored with electrophoretic experiments and viral replication assays, we report that, in addition to the local pseudoknot in the 3'UTR, 3SL2 can establish a distal tertiary contact with an exposed sequence in the ORF7b gene located 1847 nucleotides upstream in the SARS-CoV-2 genome. The bases involved in this contact are highly conserved in all SARS-like coronaviruses and sequencing data indicate that this motif may form an alternative polymerase binding site enabling the synthesis of non-canonical subgenomic RNA. These findings provide a foundation for investigating the molecular mechanisms governing the processes of replication, discontinuous transcription, and recombination in these viruses.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Types 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...
01:20Types of RNA
RNA Performs Diverse...
01:29Viruses with RNA Genomes
01:19RNA Structure
Different Types of RNA Have the Same Basic Structure
There are three main types of ribonucleic acid (RNA) involved in protein synthesis: messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA). All three...
01:23RNA Structure
The basic structure of RNA consists of a five-carbon sugar and one of four nitrogenous bases. Although most RNA is single-stranded, it can form complex secondary and tertiary structures. Such structures play essential roles in the regulation of transcription and translation.
Different Types of RNA Have the Same Basic Structure
There are three main types of ribonucleic acid (RNA): messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA). All three RNA types consist of a...
01:23RNA Structure
The basic structure of RNA consists of a five-carbon sugar and one of four nitrogenous bases. Although most RNA is single-stranded, it can form complex secondary and tertiary structures. Such structures play essential roles in the regulation of transcription and translation.
Different Types of RNA Have the Same Basic Structure
There are three main types of ribonucleic acid (RNA): messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA). All three RNA types consist of a...