A comparison of viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerases

Genome replication in picornaviruses is catalyzed by a virally encoded RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, termed 3D. These viruses also use a small protein primer, named VPg, to initiate RNA replication. The recent explosion of structural information on picornaviral 3D polymerases has provided insights into the initiation of RNA synthesis and chain elongation. Comparing these data with results from previous structural analyses of viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerases that catalyze de novo RNA synthesis sheds light on the different strategies that these viruses use to initiate replication. © 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Primary research from the Barcelona laboratory described in this review was supported by grant BIO2002-00517. Work in Madrid was supported by grants BMC2001-1823-C02-01, BFU2005-00863/BMC and Fundación R ArecesPeer Reviewe