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Published November 5, 1987 | public
Journal Article

Conserved elements in the 3′ untranslated region of flavivirus RNAs and potential cyclization sequences

Abstract

We have isolated a cDNA clone after reverse transcription of the genomic RNA of Asibi yellow fever virus whose structure suggests it was formed by self-priming from a 3'-terminal hairpin of 87 nucleotides in the genomic RNA. We have also isolated a clone from cDNA made to Murray Valley encephalitis virus RNA that also appears to have arisen by self-priming from a 3'-terminal structure very similar or identical to that of yellow fever. In addition, 3'-terminal sequencing of the Sl strain of dengue 2 RNA shows that this RNA is also capable of forming a 3'-terminal hairpin of 79 nucleotides. Furthermore, we have identified two 20-nucleotide sequence elements which are present in the 3' untranslated region of all three viruses; one of these sequence elements is repeated in Murray Valley encephalitis and dengue 2 RNA but not in yellow fever RNA. In all three viruses, which represent the three major serological subgroups of the mosquito-borne flaviviruses, the 3'-proximal conserved sequence element, which is found immediately adjacent to the potential 3'-terminal hairpin, is complementary to another conserved domain near the 5' end of the viral RNAs, suggesting that flavivirus RNAs can cyclize (calculated delta G < - 11 kcal; 1 kcal = 4.184 kJ).

Additional Information

© 1987 Academic Press Limited (Received 6 May 1987, and in revised form 17 July 1987) This work was supported by grant DMB-86-17372 from the NSF, by grants AI-20612 and AI-10793 from the NIH, by a grant from the World Health Organization, and by a grant from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia. C.M.R. is supported by a grant from the Pew Memorial Trust.

Additional details

Created:
August 19, 2023
Modified:
October 18, 2023