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The Multiple Regulatory Roles of Single-Stranded RNA Viral Genomes in Virion Formation and Infection

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Physical Virology

Part of the book series: Springer Series in Biophysics ((BIOPHYSICS,volume 24))

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Abstract

We describe our discovery, recent findings, and potential implications, of previously unsuspected roles of viral genomes in assembly regulation and infection. For a range of viral pathogens, including those that infect people, we have shown that assembly depends on multiple RNA-coat protein interactions. Spontaneous release of these constraints during assembly may also contribute to viral infectivity. These properties of viral genomes are conserved across strain variants and are therefore currently unexploited potential targets for directly-acting anti-viral drugs. Furthermore, grafting RNA assembly signals onto non-viral RNAs confers cognate packaging properties with appropriate coat proteins and is opening up an era of bespoke designer viral vectors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK

    Peter G. Stockley

  2. Departments of Mathematics and Biology, York Cross-Disciplinary Centre for Systems Analysis, University of York, York, UK

    Reidun Twarock

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  1. Peter G. Stockley
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Correspondence to Peter G. Stockley or Reidun Twarock .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Autonomous University of San Luis Potosi, San Luis Potosí, Mexico

    Mauricio Comas-Garcia

  2. Autonomous University of San Luis Potosi, San Luis Potosí, Mexico

    Sergio Rosales-Mendoza

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Stockley, P.G., Twarock, R. (2023). The Multiple Regulatory Roles of Single-Stranded RNA Viral Genomes in Virion Formation and Infection. In: Comas-Garcia, M., Rosales-Mendoza, S. (eds) Physical Virology. Springer Series in Biophysics, vol 24. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-36815-8_4

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