Direct translation of incoming retroviral genomes

Julia Köppke, Luise-Elektra Keller, Michelle Stuck, Nicolas D. Arnow, Norbert Bannert, Joerg Doellinger and Oya Cingöz ()
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Julia Köppke: Unit of Sexually Transmitted Bacterial Pathogens and HIV (FG18)
Luise-Elektra Keller: Unit of Sexually Transmitted Bacterial Pathogens and HIV (FG18)
Michelle Stuck: Unit of Sexually Transmitted Bacterial Pathogens and HIV (FG18)
Nicolas D. Arnow: Unit of Sexually Transmitted Bacterial Pathogens and HIV (FG18)
Norbert Bannert: Unit of Sexually Transmitted Bacterial Pathogens and HIV (FG18)
Joerg Doellinger: Proteomics and Spectroscopy (ZBS6)
Oya Cingöz: Unit of Sexually Transmitted Bacterial Pathogens and HIV (FG18)

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract Viruses that carry a positive-sense, single-stranded (+ssRNA) RNA translate their genomes soon after entering the host cell to produce viral proteins, with the exception of retroviruses. A distinguishing feature of retroviruses is reverse transcription, where the +ssRNA genome serves as a template to synthesize a double-stranded DNA copy that subsequently integrates into the host genome. As retroviral RNAs are produced by the host cell transcriptional machinery and are largely indistinguishable from cellular mRNAs, we investigated the potential of incoming retroviral genomes to directly express proteins. Here we show through multiple, complementary methods that retroviral genomes are translated after entry. Our findings challenge the notion that retroviruses require reverse transcription to produce viral proteins. Synthesis of retroviral proteins in the absence of productive infection has significant implications for basic retrovirology, immune responses and gene therapy applications.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44501-7

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