Coronaviruses use Discontinuous Extension for Synthesis of Subgenome-Length Negative Strands (original) (raw)

Abstract

We have developed a new model for coronavirus transcription, which we call discontinuous extension, to explain how subgenome-length negatives stands are derived directly from the genome. The current model called leader-primed transcription, which states that subgenomic mRNA is transcribed directly from genome-length negative-strands, cannot explain many of the recent experimental findings. For instance, subgenomic mRNAs are transcribed directly via transcription intermediates that contain subgenome-length negative-strand templates; however subgenomic mRNA does not appear to be copied directly into negatives strands. In our model the subgenome-length negative strands would be derived using the genome as a template. After the polymerase had copied the 3′-end of the genome, it would detach at any one of the several intergenic sequences and reattach to the sequence immediately downstream of the leader sequence at the 5′-end of genome RNA. Base pairing between the 3′-end of the nascent subgenome-length negative strands, which would be complementary to the intergenic sequence at the end of the leader sequence at the 5′-end of genome, would serve to align the nascent negative strand to the genome and permit the completion of synthesis, i.e., discontinuous extension of the 3′-end of the negative strand. Thus, subgenome-length negative-strands would arise by discontinuous synthesis, but of negative strands, not of positive strands as proposed originally by the leader-primed transcription model.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology, Medical College of Ohio, P.O. Box 10008, Toledo, Ohio, 43699, USA
    Stanley G. Sawicki & Dorothea L. Sawicki

Authors

  1. Stanley G. Sawicki
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  2. Dorothea L. Sawicki
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Armand-Frappier Institute, University of Québec, Laval, Québec, Canada
    Pierre J. Talbot
  2. The Toronto Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
    Gary A. Levy

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Sawicki, S.G., Sawicki, D.L. (1995). Coronaviruses use Discontinuous Extension for Synthesis of Subgenome-Length Negative Strands. In: Talbot, P.J., Levy, G.A. (eds) Corona- and Related Viruses. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 380. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-1899-0\_79

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