Back-priming mode of phi6 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase.
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Laurila MR, Salgado PS, Stuart DI, Grimes JM, Bamford DH
Back-priming mode of phi6 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase.
J Gen Virol. 2005 Feb;86(Pt 2):521-6.
- PubMed ID
- 15659773 [ View in PubMed]
- Abstract
The RNA-dependent RNA polymerase of the double-stranded RNA bacteriophage phi6 is capable of primer-independent initiation, as are many RNA polymerases. The structure of this polymerase revealed an initiation platform, composed of a loop in the C-terminal domain (QYKW, aa 629-632), that was essential for de novo initiation. A similar element has been identified in hepatitis C virus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. Biochemical studies have addressed the role of this platform, revealing that a mutant version can utilize a back-priming initiation mechanism, where the 3' terminus of the template adopts a hairpin-like conformation. Here, the mechanism of back-primed initiation is studied further by biochemical and structural methods.