Poliovirus proves IRES-istible in vivo
Bert L. Semler
Bert L. Semler
Published June 15, 2004
Citation Information: J Clin Invest. 2004;113(12):1678-1681. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI22139.
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Commentary

Poliovirus proves IRES-istible in vivo

Abstract

The genetic basis for the attenuation of polio vaccines has been known since the 1980s. Changes in the internal ribosome entry site, within the 5′ noncoding region of genomic RNAs, were presumed to reduce translation in certain target organs, leading to the conclusion that attenuation is mediated at the level of translation. A report in this issue of the JCI reveals that poliovirus tropism is, in part, determined after internal ribosome entry.

Authors

Bert L. Semler

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Figure 2

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Predicted RNA secondary structure of the poliovirus 5′ NCR. Computer pre...
Predicted RNA secondary structure of the poliovirus 5′ NCR. Computer prediction and chemical and enzymatic RNA-structure probing were used to deduce a consensus RNA conformation. Conserved sequences among picornaviruses include a GNRA tetraloop (thought to function in tertiary interactions of RNAs and in protein binding), A/C_rich loops, and a pyrimidine-rich region just upstream of the conserved AUG codon. The IRES domain is boxed by red lines.