Coronavirus packaging signal
Encyclopedia
The Coronavirus packaging signal is a conserved cis-regulatory element
found in Coronavirus
which has an important role in regulating the packaging of the viral genome
into the capsid
.
As part of the viral life cycle, within the infected cell, the viral genome becomes associated with viral protein
s and assembles into new infective progeny
viruses This process is called packaging and is vital for viral replication. This virus has positive-sense
single-stranded RNA
genome. A short region (190 base pair
s) in the viral genome was identified that interacts with a viral envelope
protein (protein M) and enables the viral RNA to be specificity packaged into virions .
Other RNA families identified in the coronavirus include the SL-III cis-acting replication element (CRE)
, the coronavirus frameshifting stimulation element
, the coronavirus 3' stem-loop II-like motif (s2m)
and the coronavirus 3' UTR pseudoknot
.
Cis-regulatory element
A cis-regulatory element or cis-element is a region of DNA or RNA that regulates the expression of genes located on that same molecule of DNA . This term is constructed from the Latin word cis, which means "on the same side as". These cis-regulatory elements are often binding sites for one or...
found in Coronavirus
Coronavirus
Coronaviruses are species in the genera of virus belonging to the subfamily Coronavirinae in the family Coronaviridae. Coronaviruses are enveloped viruses with a positive-sense single-stranded RNA genome and a helical symmetry. The genomic size of coronaviruses ranges from approximately 16 to 31...
which has an important role in regulating the packaging of the viral genome
Genome
In modern molecular biology and genetics, the genome is the entirety of an organism's hereditary information. It is encoded either in DNA or, for many types of virus, in RNA. The genome includes both the genes and the non-coding sequences of the DNA/RNA....
into the capsid
Capsid
A capsid is the protein shell of a virus. It consists of several oligomeric structural subunits made of protein called protomers. The observable 3-dimensional morphological subunits, which may or may not correspond to individual proteins, are called capsomeres. The capsid encloses the genetic...
.
As part of the viral life cycle, within the infected cell, the viral genome becomes associated with viral protein
Protein
Proteins are biochemical compounds consisting of one or more polypeptides typically folded into a globular or fibrous form, facilitating a biological function. A polypeptide is a single linear polymer chain of amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of...
s and assembles into new infective progeny
Offspring
In biology, offspring is the product of reproduction, of a new organism produced by one or more parents.Collective offspring may be known as a brood or progeny in a more general way...
viruses This process is called packaging and is vital for viral replication. This virus has positive-sense
Sense (molecular biology)
In molecular biology and genetics, sense is a concept used to compare the polarity of nucleic acid molecules, such as DNA or RNA, to other nucleic acid molecules...
single-stranded RNA
RNA
Ribonucleic acid , or RNA, is one of the three major macromolecules that are essential for all known forms of life....
genome. A short region (190 base pair
Base pair
In molecular biology and genetics, the linking between two nitrogenous bases on opposite complementary DNA or certain types of RNA strands that are connected via hydrogen bonds is called a base pair...
s) in the viral genome was identified that interacts with a viral envelope
Viral envelope
Many viruses have viral envelopes covering their protein capsids. The envelopes typically are derived from portions of the host cell membranes , but include some viral glycoproteins. Functionally, viral envelopes are used to help viruses enter host cells...
protein (protein M) and enables the viral RNA to be specificity packaged into virions .
Other RNA families identified in the coronavirus include the SL-III cis-acting replication element (CRE)
Coronavirus SL-III cis-acting replication element (CRE)
The coronavirus SL-III cis-acting replication element is an RNA element that regulates defective interfering RNA replication.Other RNA families identified in the coronavirus include the coronavirus 3' stem-loop II-like motif , the coronavirus frameshifting stimulation element, the coronavirus...
, the coronavirus frameshifting stimulation element
Coronavirus frameshifting stimulation element
In molecular biology, the coronavirus frameshifting stimulation element is a conserved stem-loop of RNA found in coronaviruses that can promote ribosomal frameshifting. Such RNA molecules interact with a downstream region to form a pseudoknot structure; the region varies according to the virus but...
, the coronavirus 3' stem-loop II-like motif (s2m)
Coronavirus 3' stem-loop II-like motif (s2m)
The Coronavirus 3' stem-loop II-like motif is a secondary structure motif identified in the 3'untranslated region of astrovirus, coronavirus and equine rhinovirus genomes...
and the coronavirus 3' UTR pseudoknot
Coronavirus 3' UTR pseudoknot
The Coronavirus 3' UTR pseudoknot is an RNA structure found in the coronavirus genome. Coronaviruses contain 30 kb single-stranded positive-sense RNA genomes. The 3' UTR region of these coronavirus genomes contains a conserved ~55 nucleotide pseudoknot structure which is necessary for viral genome...
.