RNA signals in entero- and rhinovirus genome replication

The VPg-linked, plus-stranded RNA genomes of entero- and rhinoviruses contain very different 5' and 3' terminal regions which harbor signals for RNA replication. The terminal cloverleaf-like structure of the 5'-nontranslated region (5'NTR) is known to be required for plus-strand RNA synthesis. Genetic evidence suggest that two stem-loop structures and the poly(A) tail of the 3'NTR have a function In minus-strand synthesis. All of the nonstructural viral proteins, and possibly also some cellular polypeptides, are believed to be involved in RNA replication. RNA synthesis is initiated on a poly(A) template and involves uridylylation of VPg to yield VPgpU(pU). This precursor is likely to serve as primer for the RNA polymerase 3D(pol) during both minus- and plus-strand RNA synthesis. (C) 1997 Academic Press.