The Hinge Region of the Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus Internal Ribosome Entry Site Directs Ribosomal Positioning, Translational Activity, and Virus Infection

Abstract

Viruses must use the host cell machinery to direct viral protein expression for productive infection. One such mechanism is an internal ribosome entry site that can directly recruit host cell machinery. In this study, we have identified a novel sequence in an IRES that provides insight into the mechanism of viral gene expression. Specifically, this novel sequence promotes viral IRES activity by directly guiding the host cell machinery to start gene expression at a specific site.