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Saccharomyces cerevisiae killer virus transcripts contain template-coded polyadenylate tracts

E M Hannig, D J Thiele, M J Leibowitz

    Molecular and Cellular Biology
    |January 1, 1984
    PubMed

    Insights

    Killer yeast M double-stranded RNA has an adenine-rich region that mimics polyadenylation, aiding transcript stability and function. This internal RNA feature offers an alternative to traditional 3'-end polyadenylation for viral gene expression.

    Area of Science:

    • Molecular Biology
    • Virology
    • Yeast Genetics

    Background:

    • Type 1 killer strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae possess M double-stranded RNA (dsRNA).
    • This viral dsRNA contains a unique internal adenine- and uracil-rich region.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the function of the internal adenine-rich region in M dsRNA.
    • To determine if this region serves as an alternative to 3'-terminal polyadenylation.

    Main Methods:

    • Analysis of M dsRNA plus-strand binding to polyuridylate-Sepharose.
    • In vitro transcription of M dsRNA to analyze transcript structure and fidelity.

    Main Results:

    • The internal adenine-rich region binds polyuridylate-Sepharose similarly to polyadenylated RNAs.
    • In vitro transcripts exhibit a non-template-encoded purine at the 3' terminus.
    • The 5' terminus forms a stem-loop structure with an AUG initiation codon and rRNA binding sites.
    • In vitro transcription demonstrates high fidelity, except for the 3' terminus.

    Conclusions:

    • The internal adenine-rich tract in M dsRNA can function as an alternative to 3'-terminal polyadenylation.
    • This mechanism may enhance viral transcript stability and translation efficiency in yeast.

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