Arenavirus nucleocapsid protein displays a transcriptional antitermination activity in vivo

TORTORICI MA, ALBARIÑO CG, POSIK DM, GHIRINGHELLI PD, LOZANO ME, RIVERA POMAR R, ROMANOWSKI V.

VIRUS RESEARCH

Año: 2001 vol. 73 p. 41 - 55

0168-1702

RNA polymerase pausing and transcriptional antitermination regulates gene activity in several systems. In arenavirus infected cells the switch from transcription to replication is subjected to a hairpin-dependent termination and requires protein synthesis to bypass this signal. The transcriptional antitermination control by Junín virus nucleocapsid protein N, has been demonstrated in vivo by infecting BHK-21 cells expressing this viral protein in the presence of translation inhibitors. This is the first demonstration in vivo of a transcriptional antitermination control in arenavirus-infected cells.