Fig. 7. Replication of 3D^pol mutants.

Intramolecular contact residues were identified and were mutated to alanine within the 3D-encoding region of ptGFP-expressing subgenomic replicon. a Replicon RNA was transfected into BHK-21 cells and replication determined by measuring the levels of GFP expression in comparison to the level of translation (GNN). Residues that significantly reduced the level of GFP expression are highlighted in pink. b and c Location of the amino acid residues that were mutated in this analysis, those that are coloured orange did not significantly affect replicon efficiency, while those that are coloured dark magenta significantly reduced the levels of GFP expression and were located at the modelled 3D^pol dimerisation interface only (PDB: 2EC0). Statistical analysis by unpaired two-tailed t test, ± SEM, **p < 0.001, ***p < 0.0001.