| Influenza is an RNA virus whose segmented genome is encapsidated into viral ribonucleoprotein complexes (vRNPs). Upon infection, the vRNPs migrate into the nucleus where transcription and replication take place. The vRNPs contain a RNA-dependent RNA polymerase that is responsible for viral transcription and replication. The polymerase is composed of three subunits, PB1, PB2, and PA. PBI has polymerase activity and PB2 is involved in viral transcription. The function of PA is unclear. To help elucidate the role of PA in the viral life cycle, 16 conserved regions of PA were targeted for alanine substitution. A plasmid-based transfection system was used to generate recombinant influenza particles bearing each mutation, which were tested for viral viability and the ability of each mutant polymerase to transcribe and replicate a reporter. Mutations in the N-terminus were not well tolerated and resulted in either non-viable or attenuated viruses. One of the mutants, J10, was capable of RNA synthesis, yet did not create viral particles capable of plaque formation in MDCK cells. Specifically, when compared to wild-type, this mutant synthesized 50+/-7% vRNA, 86+/-12% mRNA, and 128+/-18% cRNA. These levels are compatible with viability, as mutants J8 (27%) and J12 (23%), produced significantly less vRNA than J10, yet were viable by plaque assay. The mRNAs generated from J10 polymerase were found to be translationally-active, and both the mutant protein and its RNA products were appropriately localized in the cytoplasm, where influenza assembly occurs. Nevertheless, J10 failed to generate infectious particles from cells in a plasmid-based influenza assembly assay, and hemagglutinating material from the supernatants of such cells contained little or no nuclease-resistant genomic RNA. These findings suggest that PA has a previously unrecognized role in assembly or release of influenza virions, perhaps influencing core structure or the packaging of vRNAs or other essential components into nascent influenza particles. |
