Direct translation of incoming retroviral genomes

  • 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.

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Author:Julia KöppkeORCiDGND, Luise-Elektra KellerORCiD, Michelle StuckGND, Nicolas Dominik ArnowGND, Norbert BannertORCiDGND, Jörg DöllingerGND, Oya CingözORCiD
URN:urn:nbn:de:hebis:30:3-830010
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-44501-7
ISSN:2041-1723
Parent Title (English):Nature Communications
Publisher:Nature Publishing Group UK
Place of publication:London
Document Type:Article
Language:English
Date of Publication (online):2024/01/05
Date of first Publication:2024/01/05
Publishing Institution:Universitätsbibliothek Johann Christian Senckenberg
Release Date:2024/05/31
Volume:15
Issue:Article number: 299
Article Number:299
Page Number:12
Institutes:Medizin
Biowissenschaften / Biowissenschaften
Dewey Decimal Classification:6 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften / 61 Medizin und Gesundheit / 610 Medizin und Gesundheit
Sammlungen:Universitätspublikationen
Licence (German):License LogoCreative Commons - CC BY - Namensnennung 4.0 International