"Making mRNA in the wrong compartment" - Guest Lecture by Utz Fischer
In his RTG Guest Lecture on 2 November, Utz Fischer from the University of Würzburg proudly presented the poxvirus RNA polymerase (vaccinia RNAP or vRNAP).
 |
|
The DNA-dependent multi-subunit complex resembles the host RNA polymerase II and carries out viral gene expression independent of host enzymes in the cytoplasm of infected cells – transcription of the poxvirus genome thus does not require entry into the host nucleus. However, vRNAP does include one host factor, namely host glutaminyl tRNA which appears to be important for stability of the complex. Further reading: Structural Basis of Poxvirus Transcription: Vaccinia RNA Polymerase Complexes. Grimm et al, Cell 2019; Structural basis of the complete poxvirus transcription initiation process. Grimm et al, Nature Structural & Molecular Biology 2021; Cytoplasmic gene expression: lessons from poxviruses. Grimm, Bartuli and Fischer, Trends in Biochemical Sciences 2022.
|