@article{mbs:/content/journal/jgv/10.1099/vir.0.81750-0, author = "Beerens, Nancy and Snijder, Eric J.", title = "RNA signals in the 3′ terminus of the genome of Equine arteritis virus are required for viral RNA synthesis", journal= "Journal of General Virology", year = "2006", volume = "87", number = "7", pages = "1977-1983", doi = "https://doi.org/10.1099/vir.0.81750-0", url = "https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jgv/10.1099/vir.0.81750-0", publisher = "Microbiology Society", issn = "1465-2099", type = "Journal Article", abstract = "RNA virus genomes contain cis-acting sequences and structural elements involved in virus replication. Both full-length and subgenomic negative-strand RNA synthesis are initiated at the 3′ terminus of the positive-strand genomic RNA of Equine arteritis virus (EAV). To investigate the molecular mechanism of EAV RNA synthesis, the RNA secondary structure of the 3′-proximal region of the genome was analysed by chemical and enzymic probing. Based on the RNA secondary structure model derived from this analysis, several deletions were engineered in a full-length cDNA copy of the viral genome. Two RNA domains were identified that are essential for virus replication and most likely play a key role in viral RNA synthesis. The first domain, located directly upstream of the 3′ untranslated region (UTR) (nt 12610–12654 of the genome), is mainly single-stranded but contains one small stem–loop structure. The second domain is located within the 3′ UTR (nt 12661–12690) and folds into a prominent stem–loop structure with a large loop region. The location of this stem–loop structure near the 3′ terminus of the genome suggests that it may act as a recognition signal during the initiation of minus-strand RNA synthesis.", }