Resource Center

Go back to Resource Center

The metabolism of small cellular RNA species during productive subgroup C adenovirus infection.

1995 Jan 10

Journal Article

Authors:
Smiley, J.K.; Young, M.A.; Bansbach, C.C.; Flint, S.J.

Secondary:
Virology

Volume:
206

Pagination:
100-7

Issue:
1

PMID:
7831765

DOI:
10.1016/s0042-6822(95)80024-7

Keywords:
Adenoviridae; HeLa Cells; Humans; Ribonucleoproteins, Small Nuclear; RNA Polymerase I; RNA Polymerase III; RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional; RNA, Small Nuclear

Abstract:
During the late phase of subgroup C adenovirus infection, export of cellular mRNA from the nucleus to the cytoplasm is inhibited. In one approach to investigate the mechanism whereby viral late mRNAs are selected for export, we have examined the metabolism of small cellular RNA species transcribed by all three RNA polymerases during the late phase of Ad5 infection. No changes in the quantities of [3H]uridine-labeled 5S rRNA or tRNAs entering the cytoplasm were observed in infected cells. Adenovirus type 5 infection reduced the nuclear and cytoplasmic populations of the newly synthesized, snRNP-associated snRNAs U1, U2, U4, U5, and U6. Transcription of a representative snRNA, U1 RNA, was not inhibited, indicating that the post-transcriptional metabolism of snRNAs was perturbed during the late phase of infection. The increased cytoplasmic concentration of newly synthesized U1 RNA in Ad5- compared to mock-infected cells, and the greater reduction of the snRNP-associated compared to the total U1 RNA population, indicated that snRNP assembly in the cytoplasm was impaired. As adenovirus infection does not perturb export from the nucleus of small cellular mRNAs transcribed by RNA polymerases II and III, viral mRNA must be distinguished for selective export at a nuclear step upstream of translocation to the cytoplasm via nuclear pore complexes.

Go back to Resource Center