A Structured Retroviral RNA Element That Mediates Nucleocytoplasmic Export of Intron-Containing RNA
Year: 1997
Type: article
Abstract: A common feature of gene expression in all retroviruses is that unspliced, intron-containing RNA is exported to the cytoplasm despite the fact that cellular RNAs which contain introns are usually restricted to the nucleus. In complex retroviruses, the export of intron-containing RNA is mediated by specific viral regulatory proteins (e.g., human immunodeficiency virus type 1 [HIV-1] Rev) that bind to elements in the viral RNA. However, simpler retroviruses do not encode such regulatory proteins. Here we show that the genome of the simpler retrovirus Mason-Pfizer monkey virus (MPMV) contains an element that serves as an autonomous nuclear export signal for intron-containing RNA. This element is essential for MPMV replication; however, its function can be complemented by HIV-1 Rev and the Rev-responsive element. The element can also facilitate the export of cellular intron-containing RNA. These results suggest that the MPMV element mimics cellular RNA transport signals and mediates RNA export through interaction with endogenous cellular factors.
Source: Molecular and Cellular Biology
DOI: 10.1128/mcb.17.1.135
Institution: University of Virginia
Language: English
Topic: RNA Research and Splicing
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1867411047