📄 New structure model for the packaging signal in the genome of group IIa coronaviruses

A 190-nucleotide (nt) packaging signal (PS) located in the 3′ end of open reading frame 1b in the mouse hepatitis virus, a group IIa Coronavirus, was previously postulated to direct genome RNA packaging. Based on phylogenetic data and structure probing, we have identified a 95-nt hairpin within the 190-nt PS domain which is conserved in all group IIa coronaviruses but not in the severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus (group IIb), group I coronaviruses, or group III coronaviruses. The hairpin is composed of six copies of a repeating structural subunit that consists of 2-nt bulges and 5-bp stems. We propose that repeating AA bulges are characteristic features of group IIa PSs. Copyright © 2007, American Society for Microbiology.

keywords 🔗 severe acute (1373) 🔗 reading frame (222) 🔗 hepatitis virus (437) 🔗 mouse hepatitis (371) 🔗 packaging signal (16) 🔗 respiratory syndrome (2004) 🔗 acute respiratory (1734) 🔗 open reading (215)

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