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Purification and Visualization of Influenza A Viral Ribonucleoprotein Complexes
09:35

Purification and Visualization of Influenza A Viral Ribonucleoprotein Complexes

Published on: February 9, 2009

Identification of a second protein encoded by influenza C virus RNA segment 6

S Hongo1, K Sugawara, H Nishimura

  • 1Department of Bacteriology, Yamagata University School of Medicine, Japan.

The Journal of General Virology
|December 1, 1994
PubMed

Insights

Researchers discovered a new influenza C virus protein, CM2, encoded by an unspliced mRNA. This previously unrecognized protein contains an additional 132 amino acids and is synthesized in infected cells.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Influenza C virus matrix protein (M1) is encoded by spliced mRNA from RNA segment 6.
  • An unspliced mRNA from this segment, previously unidentified, could encode a larger M1 variant.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the potential for a novel protein encoded by unspliced influenza C virus RNA segment 6 mRNA.
  • To characterize this previously unrecognized protein.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative nucleotide sequence analysis of RNA segment 6 from four influenza C strains.
  • Expression of the carboxy-terminal domain in E. coli and generation of specific antiserum.
  • Immunoprecipitation assays to detect the novel protein in infected cells.

Main Results:

  • Nucleotide sequences of RNA segment 6 were compared, showing conservation in the carboxy-terminal domain.
  • Unspliced mRNA was detected in infected cells, albeit in low quantities.
  • A previously unrecognized protein (CM2) of approximately 18,000 M(r) was identified in infected cells.

Conclusions:

  • A novel influenza C virus protein, CM2, is synthesized from an unspliced mRNA.
  • The carboxy-terminal domain shows moderate conservation across different influenza C strains.
  • The discovery of CM2 expands our understanding of influenza C virus gene expression.

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