The N-terminal region of the PA subunit of the RNA polymerase of influenza A/HongKong/156/97 (H5N1) influences promoter binding.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The RNA polymerase of influenza virus is a heterotrimeric complex of PB1, PB2 and PA subunits which cooperate in the transcription and replication of the viral genome. Previous research has shown that the N-terminal region of the PA subunit of influenza A/WSN/33 (H1N1) virus is involved in promoter binding.

METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:

Here we extend our studies of the influenza RNA polymerase to that of influenza strains A/HongKong/156/97 (H5N1) and A/Vietnam/1194/04 (H5N1). Both H5N1 strains, originally isolated from patients in 1997 and 2004, showed significantly higher polymerase activity compared with two classical human strains, A/WSN/33 (H1N1) and A/NT/60/68 (H3N2) in vitro. This increased polymerase activity correlated with enhanced promoter binding. The N-terminal region of the PA subunit was the major determinant of this enhanced promoter activity.

CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE:

Overall we suggest that the N-terminal region of the PA subunit of two recent H5N1 strains can influence promoter binding and we speculate this may be a factor in their virulence.

• Authors: Takahito Kashiwagi, Bo Wah Leung, Tao Deng, Hualan Chen, George G Brownlee
• Journal: PloS one (PLoS One) Vol. 4 Issue 5 Pg. e5473 ( 2009) ISSN: 1932-6203 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 19421324 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Cross-Linking Reagents
• PA protein, influenza viruses
• RNA, Viral
• Ribonucleoproteins
• Viral Proteins
• RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase
• DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases

Topics

• Animals
• Chick Embryo (cytology, virology)
• Chickens
• Cross-Linking Reagents
• DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases (genetics, metabolism)
• Humans
• Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype (enzymology, genetics)
• Kidney (cytology, virology)
• Promoter Regions, Genetic (physiology)
• RNA, Viral (metabolism)
• RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase (genetics, metabolism)
• Ribonucleoproteins (genetics, metabolism)
• Transcription, Genetic
• Ultraviolet Rays
• Viral Proteins (genetics, metabolism)
• Virus Replication