9.8C: Viral Replication and Gene Expression
- Examine viral gene expression during virus replication
Replication of viruses primarily involves the multiplication of the viral genome. Replication also involves synthesis of viral messenger RNA (mRNA) from “early” genes (with exceptions for positive sense RNA viruses), viral protein synthesis, possible assembly of viral proteins, then viral genome replication mediated by early or regulatory protein expression. This may be followed, for complex viruses with larger genomes, by one or more further rounds of mRNA synthesis: “late” gene expression is, in general, necessary for structural or virion proteins. Viral replication usually takes place in the cytoplasm.
Viruses that replicate via RNA intermediates need an RNA-dependent RNA- polymerase to replicate their RNA, but animal cells do not seem to possess a suitable enzyme. Therefore, this type of animal RNA virus needs to code for an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. No viral proteins can be made until viral messenger RNA is available; thus, the nature of the RNA in the virion affects the strategy of the virus: In plus-stranded RNA viruses, the virion (genomic) RNA is the same sense as mRNA and so functions as mRNA. This mRNA can be translated immediately upon infection of the host cell. Examples: poliovirus (picornavirus), togaviruses, and flaviviruses.
RNA viruses are classified into distinct groups depending on their genome and mode of replication (and the numerical groups based on the older Baltimore classification).
Positive-sense ssRNA viruses (Group IV) have their genome directly utilized as if it were mRNA, with host ribosomes translating it into a single protein which is modified by host and viral proteins to form the various proteins needed for replication. One of these includes RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RNA replicase), which copies the viral RNA to form a double-stranded replicative form, in turn this directs the formation of new virions.
Key Points
- Positive sense, negative sense, double stranded viruses, and retroviruses are RNA viruses with different modes of replication.
- Positive-sense ssRNA viruses (Group IV) have their genome directly utilized as if it were mRNA.
- Replication of viruses involves primarily multiplication of the genome.
- The polarity of single-stranded RNA viruses largely determines the replicative mechanism.
Key Terms
- genome : The complete genetic information (either DNA or, in some viruses, RNA) of an organism, typically expressed in the number of basepairs.
- virus : A submicroscopic infectious organism, now understood to be a non-cellular structure consisting of a core of DNA or RNA surrounded by a protein coat. It requires a living cell to replicate, and often causes disease in the host organism.
- replication : Process by which an object, person, place or idea may be copied mimicked or reproduced.