Sindbis virus (SV) is the prototype of alphaviruses which are a group of widely distributed human and animal pathogens. Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) A1 is an RNA-binding protein that shuttles between the nucleus and the cytoplasm. Our recent studies found that hnRNP A1 relocates from nucleus to cytoplasm in Sindbis virus (SV)-infected cells. hnRNP A1 binds to the 5′ UTR of SV RNA and facilitates the viral RNA replication and translation. Methods: Making use of standard molecular techniques, virology methods and an in vitro system developed by our lab to assess the role of hnRNP A1 in SV positive strand. | Gui et al. Journal of Biomedical Science 2010 17 59 http content 17 1 59 The cost of publication in Journal of Biomedical Science Is borne by the National Science Council Taiwan JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE RESEARCH Open Access hnRNP A1 interacts with the genomic and subgenomic RNA promoters of Sindbis virus and is required for the synthesis of G and SG RNA I Innn vi no li1 nbi-IA cii I I 2 Adomc2 Qtc 11 o r4 5 l loi- inc 1 I i 4 nongxing GUI CHI Wei LU Sandra AUcii ij Victor Stollar Mei Liny LI Abstract Background Sindbis virus SV is the prototype of alphaviruses which are d group of widely distributed human and animal pathogens. Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein hnRNP A1 is an RNA-bindiny protein that shuttles between the nucleus and the cytoplasm. Our recent studies found that hnRNP A1 relocates from nucleus to cytoplasm in Sindbis virus SV -infected cells. hnRNP A1 binds to the 5 UTR of SV RNA and facilitates the viral RNA replication and translation. Methods Making use of standard molecular techniques virology methods and an in vitro system developed by our lab to assess the role of hnRNP A1 in SV positive strand RNA synthesis. Results hnRNP A1 interacted with the genomic G and subgenomic SG RNA promoters. Knockdown of hnRNP A1 resulted in markedly decrease in the synthesis of G and SG RNA both in infected cells and in vitro. Conclusions Our study provides the first direct evidence that hnRNP A1 actively participates in viral RNA replication and is required for the synthesis of G and SG RNA. Background Alphaviruses are a group of widely distributed human and animal pathogens that includes almost 40 currently known members 1 . In natural conditions most alphaviruses are transmitted by mosquitos that develop lifelong chronic infections 2 . The presence of virus in the mosquito salivary glands mediates infection of vertebrates that serve as amplifying hosts. In vertebrates alphaviruses develop acute infections characterized by .
