Viral Messenger RNA

The nucleotide sequence of the gene from which messenger RNA mole­ cules are transcribed is in a form that can be translated by cellular ribosomes into the amino acid sequence of a particular polypeptide, the product of the gene. The discovery of messenger RNA more than twenty years ago led to a series of studies on its organization and function in cells in the presence of infecting viruses. This volume is devoted to current studies in the field of cellular and viral messenger RNA. The studies presented provide an insight into molecular and genetic aspects of messenger RNA. Special attention was paid by the authors to the molecular organization of mRNA species, to the processing of mRNA molecules, and to the different strategies employed by DNA and RNA viruses in the synthesis of their mRNA. The ability of a virus to take over the protein-synthesizing mechanisms of an infected cell depends on its ability to produce mRNA molecules which can affect the host mRNA or utilize cellular components more efficiently. The differences between, and similarities of, the strategies of mRNA synthesis devised by various DNA and RNA viruses are described herein. This book should be of interest to all students of cellular and viral genes and scientists in the field. It is suitable as a textbook for workshops and courses on mRNA. I wish to thank the authors for their fine contributions and for their interest.

Contenu

General.- 1 Biogenesis of messenger RNA.- 2 The interaction between viral messenger RNA and eukaryotic initiation factor 2, a protein involved in translational control.- Phage mRNA.- 3 Bacteriophage T7 mRNAs.- 4 Analysis of viral transcription-termination signals.- mRNA of DNA viruses.- 5 Herpesvirus mRNA.- 6 Organization and control of the mRNA of the HSV TK gene.- 7 Use of cloned Epstein-Barr virus DNA to identify genes that determine the fate of viral infection.- 8 Adenoviral hnRNA is associated with the host nuclear matrix during processing.- mRNA of RNA viruses.- 9 Reovirus mRNA.- 10 Transcription of the vesicular stomatitis virus genome RNA.- 11 Influenza viral RNA transcription.- 12 Transcription by La Crosse virus.- 13 mRNAs of Uukuniemi virus, a bunyavirus.- 14 Foot-and-mouth disease virus RNA.- 15 The expression and organization of the alphavirus genome.- 16 A short segment of viral DNA is required for the stimulation of transcription of mouse mammary tumor virus genes by glucocorticoid hormones.- 17 The interactions of viral proteins with Rous sarcoma virus RNA and possible control of reverse transcription, translation and virion assembly.