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Features of the autonomous function of the translational enhancer domain of satellite tobacco necrosis virus

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 November 1998

FRANK MEULEWAETER
Affiliation:
Plant Genetic Systems N.V., J. Plateaustraat 22, 9000 Gent, Belgium Laboratorium voor Genetica, Universiteit Gent, K. L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000 Gent, Belgium
MARC VAN MONTAGU
Affiliation:
Laboratorium voor Genetica, Universiteit Gent, K. L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000 Gent, Belgium
MARC CORNELISSEN
Affiliation:
Plant Genetic Systems N.V., J. Plateaustraat 22, 9000 Gent, Belgium
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Abstract

The RNA of satellite tobacco necrosis virus (STNV) is a monocistronic messenger that lacks both a cap and a poly(A) tail. Translation of STNV RNA in vitro is promoted by a 120-nt translational enhancer domain (TED) in the 3′-untranslated region. TED also stimulates translation of heterologous mRNAs. In this study, we show that TED stimulates translation of a cat mRNA by increasing translation efficiency to the level of capped mRNA. This stimulatory activity is not impaired by translation through TED. TED stimulates translation efficiency from different positions within the mRNA, varying from the 5′ end to 940 nt downstream of the coding region. Duplication of TED has an additive effect on translation stimulation only when located at both ends of the mRNA. On dicistronic RNAs, TED stimulates translation of both cistrons to the same extent. These data suggest that TED acts primarily by recruiting the translational machinery to the RNA.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 1998 RNA Society

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