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  • Imaging and characterizing influenza A virus mRNA transport in living cells.

Imaging and characterizing influenza A virus mRNA transport in living cells.

Nucleic acids research (2008-07-26)
Wei Wang, Zong-Qiang Cui, Han Han, Zhi-Ping Zhang, Hong-Ping Wei, Ya-Feng Zhou, Ze Chen, Xian-En Zhang
PMID18653528
ABSTRACT

The mechanisms of influenza A virus mRNA intracellular transport are still not clearly understood. Here, we visualized the distribution and transport of influenza A virus mRNA in living cells using molecular beacon (MB) technology. Confocal-FRAP measurements determined that the transport of influenza A virus intronless mRNA, in both nucleus and cytoplasm, was energy dependent, being similar to that of Poly(A)(+) RNA. Drug inhibition studies in living cells revealed that the export of influenza A virus mRNA is independent of the CRM1 pathway, while the function of RNA polymerase II (RNAP-II) may be needed. In addition, viral NS1 protein and cellular TAP protein were found associated with influenza A virus mRNA in the cell nucleus. These findings characterize influenza A virus mRNA transport in living cells and suggest that influenza A virus mRNA may be exported from the nucleus by the cellular TAP/p15 pathway with NS1 protein and RNAP-II participation.