Direct translation of incoming retroviral RNA genomes

  • Viruses that carry a positive-sense, single-stranded RNA translate their genomes 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 transcriptional machinery and are largely indistinguishable from cellular mRNAs, we investigated the potential of incoming retroviral genomes to express proteins. Here we show through various biochemical methods that HIV-1 genomes are translated after entry, in case of minimal or full-length genomes, envelopes using different cellular entry pathways and in diverse cell types. Our findings challenge the dogma 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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Metadaten
Author:Julia KöppkeORCiDGND, Luise-Elektra KellerORCiD, Michelle StuckGND, Nicolas Dominik ArnowGND, Norbert BannertORCiDGND, Oya CingözORCiD
URN:urn:nbn:de:hebis:30:3-830038
URL:https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.05.02.539066v1
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.05.02.539066
Parent Title (English):bioRxiv
Publisher:bioRxiv
Document Type:Preprint
Language:English
Date of Publication (online):2023/05/02
Date of first Publication:2023/05/02
Publishing Institution:Universitätsbibliothek Johann Christian Senckenberg
Release Date:2024/05/31
Issue:2023.05.02.539066 Version 1
Edition:Version 1
Page Number:17
HeBIS-PPN:518827240
Institutes:Medizin
Dewey Decimal Classification:5 Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik / 57 Biowissenschaften; Biologie / 570 Biowissenschaften; Biologie
6 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften / 61 Medizin und Gesundheit / 610 Medizin und Gesundheit
Sammlungen:Universitätspublikationen
Licence (German):License LogoCreative Commons - CC BY-ND - Namensnennung - Keine Bearbeitungen 4.0 International