Mechanism of co-transcriptional cap snatching by influenza polymerase - PubMed
12 hours ago
- #RNA polymerase
- #cap snatching
- #influenza
- Influenza virus mRNAs receive a 5' cap structure through cap snatching, ensuring stability and functionality.
- The viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (FluPol) interacts with host RNA polymerase II (Pol II) and the elongation factor DSIF during cap snatching.
- FluPol's endonuclease domain cleaves a capped RNA fragment from the host transcript, which serves as a primer for viral gene transcription.
- Cryogenic electron microscopy reveals FluPol's positioning near Pol II's RNA exit channel, crucial for its endonuclease activity.
- After cleavage, the capped RNA rearranges within FluPol, aligning its 3' end with FluPol's polymerase active site to initiate viral transcription.