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. 2004 Sep 16;23(20):4072–4081. doi: 10.1038/sj.emboj.7600408

Figure 1.

Figure 1

Importance of the 3′CS to rotavirus RNA replication and gene expression. The 11 dsRNA genome segments (upper left) contain highly conserved sequences at their termini, including the 3′CS (red) at the 3′-end of the (+) strand. Activation of the RdRPs within double-layered particles yields (+) RNAs, which are extruded through channels located at the vertices. During gene expression, NSP3 dimers simultaneously interact with the last four to five nucleotides of the 3′CS and with eukaryotic initiation factors, causing polysome circularization. During RNA replication, the RdRP recognizes signals in the 3′CS and upstream region of the (+) RNA. Recognition is followed by the formation a (−) strand initiation complex, an event that requires the 3′CC of the (+) strand template, the RdRP and core scaffold protein VP2, and GTP. Initiation and (−) strand synthesis are associated with the packaging of (+) RNAs into cores. The assembly of a VP6 layer around the core produces a double-layered particle.