TY  - JOUR
A1  - Köppke, Julia
A1  - Keller, Luise-Elektra
A1  - Stuck, Michelle
A1  - Arnow, Nicolas Dominik
A1  - Bannert, Norbert
A1  - Döllinger, Jörg
A1  - Cingöz, Oya
T1  - Direct translation of incoming retroviral genomes
T2  - Nature Communications
N2  - Viruses that carry a positive-sense, single-stranded (+ssRNA) RNA translate their genomes soon after entering the host cell to produce viral proteins, with the exception of retroviruses. A distinguishing feature of retroviruses is reverse transcription, where the +ssRNA genome serves as a template to synthesize a double-stranded DNA copy that subsequently integrates into the host genome. As retroviral RNAs are produced by the host cell transcriptional machinery and are largely indistinguishable from cellular mRNAs, we investigated the potential of incoming retroviral genomes to directly express proteins. Here we show through multiple, complementary methods that retroviral genomes are translated after entry. Our findings challenge the notion that retroviruses require reverse transcription to produce viral proteins. Synthesis of retroviral proteins in the absence of productive infection has significant implications for basic retrovirology, immune responses and gene therapy applications.
Y1  - 2024
UR  - http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/83001
UR  - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:hebis:30:3-830010
SN  - 2041-1723
VL  - 15
IS  - Article number: 299
PB  - Nature Publishing Group UK
CY  - London
ER  -