A fusion ORF3a-E subgenomic RNA involved in SARS-CoV-2 infection efficacy by influencing cellular protein synthesis
Subgenomic RNAs (sgRNAs) are discontinuous transcription products of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that are involved in viral gene expression and replication, but their exact functions are still being studied. Here, we report the identification of a nested ORF3a-sgRNA,...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Immunology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1619538/full |
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| Summary: | Subgenomic RNAs (sgRNAs) are discontinuous transcription products of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that are involved in viral gene expression and replication, but their exact functions are still being studied. Here, we report the identification of a nested ORF3a-sgRNA, the fusion ORF3a-E-sgRNA, which is involved in the infection process of SARS-CoV-2. This sgRNA encodes both ORF3a and E and can be detected throughout the viral life cycle in SARS-CoV-2-infected cells with high copy numbers. ORF3a-E-sgmRNA guides ORF3a translation and promotes the expression of cellular ribosomal protein S3 (RPS3), increasing translation levels. Single-cell sequencing of a SARS-CoV-2-infected human bronchial epithelial cell line (16HBE) revealed that maintenance of this stable translational environment by ORF3a-E-sgmRNA is important for SARS-CoV-2 assembly and release capabilities and is also beneficial for viral evasion of host innate immunity. More importantly, the transcription level of ORF3a-E-sgRNA may contribute to differences in infection processes between the Wuhan strain and the XBB strain of SARS-CoV-2. |
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| ISSN: | 1664-3224 |