Kauffmann AD, Kennedy SD, Moss WN, Kierzek E, Kier. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance reveals a two hairpin equilibrium near the 3´-splice site of Influenza A segment 7 mRNA that can be shifted by oligonucleotides. RNA. 2022 Jan 4:rna.078951.121
Influenza A kills hundreds of thousands of people globally every year and has potential to generate more severe pandemics. Influenza A´s RNA genome and transcriptome provide many potential therapeutic targets. Here, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments suggest that one such target could be a hairpin loop of eight nucleotides in a pseudoknot that sequesters a 3´ splice site in canonical pairs until a conformational change releases it into a dynamic 2X2 nucleotide internal loop. NMR experiments reveal that the hairpin loop is dynamic and able to bind oligonucleotides as short as pentamers. A 3D NMR structure of the complex contains four and likely five base pairs between pentamer and loop. Moreover, a hairpin sequence was discovered that mimics the equilibrium of the influenza hairpin between its structure in the pseudoknot and upon release of the splice site. Oligonucleotide binding shifts the equilibrium completely to the hairpin secondary structure required for pseudoknot folding. The results suggest this hairpin can be used to screen for compounds that stabilize the pseudoknot and potentially reduce splicing.
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