%0 Journal Article %A Gallei, Andreas %A Widauer, Simone %A Thiel, Heinz-Jürgen %A Becher, Paul %T Mutations in the palm region of a plus-strand RNA virus polymerase result in attenuated phenotype %D 2006 %J Journal of General Virology, %V 87 %N 12 %P 3631-3636 %@ 1465-2099 %R https://doi.org/10.1099/vir.0.81809-0 %I Microbiology Society, %X The three-dimensional structure of RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RdRps) is highly conserved among RNA viruses. In a previous study, a unique set of mutant strains of Bovine viral diarrhea virus was obtained, encompassing either a genomic deletion of six codons or duplications of between 1 and 45 codons; these mutations affect different parts of the palm region, the most conserved part of RdRps containing the catalytic centre. In the present study, a detailed characterization of the RdRp mutant viruses was performed, demonstrating different degrees of a small-plaque phenotype in cell culture, correlating with significantly reduced viral RNA synthesis and delayed virus replication. Taken together, the results of this study demonstrate a surprising flexibility within the palm region of a plus-strand RNA virus RdRp, resulting in viral attenuation in vitro. This interesting insight into an essential viral protein may have implications for the development of vaccines and attenuated viral vectors. %U https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jgv/10.1099/vir.0.81809-0