Marburg and Ebola Virus mRNA 3′ Untranslated Regions Contain Negative Regulators of Translation That Are Modulated by ADAR1 Editing
Sudip Khadka, Caroline G. Williams, Joyce Sweeney-Gibbons, Christopher F. Basler
Abstract
UTRs comprise a large percentage of filovirus genomes and are apparent targets of editing by ADAR1, an enzyme with pro- and antiviral activities. However, the functional significance of the UTRs and ADAR1 editing has been uncertain. This study demonstrates that MARV and EBOV 3' UTRs can modulate translation, in some cases negatively. ADAR1 editing or deletion of select regions within the translation suppressing 3' UTRs relieves the negative effects of the UTRs. These data indicate that filovirus 3' UTRs contain translation regulatory elements that are modulated by activation of ADAR1, suggesting a complex interplay between filovirus gene expression and innate immunity.