@article{mbs:/content/journal/jgv/10.1099/vir.0.80492-0, author = "Laurila, Minni R. L. and Salgado, Paula S. and Stuart, David I. and Grimes, Jonathan M. and Bamford, Dennis H.", title = "Back-priming mode of ϕ6 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase", journal= "Journal of General Virology", year = "2005", volume = "86", number = "2", pages = "521-526", doi = "https://doi.org/10.1099/vir.0.80492-0", url = "https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jgv/10.1099/vir.0.80492-0", publisher = "Microbiology Society", issn = "1465-2099", type = "Journal Article", abstract = "The RNA-dependent RNA polymerase of the double-stranded RNA bacteriophage ϕ6 is capable of primer-independent initiation, as are many RNA polymerases. The structure of this polymerase revealed an initiation platform, composed of a loop in the C-terminal domain (QYKW, aa 629–632), that was essential for de novo initiation. A similar element has been identified in hepatitis C virus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. Biochemical studies have addressed the role of this platform, revealing that a mutant version can utilize a back-priming initiation mechanism, where the 3′ terminus of the template adopts a hairpin-like conformation. Here, the mechanism of back-primed initiation is studied further by biochemical and structural methods.", }