Publication
Mechanisms and enzymes involved in SARS coronavirus genome expression
Journal Paper/Review - Sep 1, 2003
Thiel Volker, Gorbalenya Alexander E, Doerr Hans Wilhelm, Rabenau Holger, Snijder Eric J, Weissbrich Benedikt, Bayer Sonja, Schelle Barbara, Hertzig Tobias, Putics Akos, Ivanov Konstantin A, Ziebuhr John
Units
PubMed
Citation
Type
Journal
Publication Date
Issn Print
Pages
Brief description/objective
A novel coronavirus is the causative agent of the current epidemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Coronaviruses are exceptionally large RNA viruses and employ complex regulatory mechanisms to express their genomes. Here, we determined the sequence of SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV), isolate Frankfurt 1, and characterized key RNA elements and protein functions involved in viral genome expression. Important regulatory mechanisms, such as the (discontinuous) synthesis of eight subgenomic mRNAs, ribosomal frameshifting and post-translational proteolytic processing, were addressed. Activities of three SARS coronavirus enzymes, the helicase and two cysteine proteinases, which are known to be critically involved in replication, transcription and/or post-translational polyprotein processing, were characterized. The availability of recombinant forms of key replicative enzymes of SARS coronavirus should pave the way for high-throughput screening approaches to identify candidate inhibitors in compound libraries.