Rotavirus translation

The viral nonstructural protein NSP3 specifically binds the 3'-end consensus sequence of viral mRNAs and interacts with the eukaryotic translation initiation factor eIF4G.

The Rotavirus replication cycle occurs entirely in the cytoplasm.

Upon virus entry, the viral transcriptase synthesizes capped but nonpolyadenylated mRNA The viral mRNAs bear 5' and 3' untranslated regions (UTR) of variable length and are flanked by two different sequences common to all genes.

In the group A rotaviruses, the 3'-end consensus sequence UGACC is highly conserved among the 11 genes.

As a consequence, during rotavirus infection PABP is evicted from eIF4G, probably impairing the translation of polyadenylated mRNA and leading to the shutoff of cellular mRNA translation observed during rotavirus infection.