Poliovirus is a positive-sense RNA virus of the picornavirus group. At its 5' end, the RNA genome has a viral protein (VPg) instead of a 5' cap. This is followed by a nontranslated leader sequence, and then a single long protein coding region (~7,000 nucleotides), followed by a poly-A tail. Observations were made that used radioactive amino acid analogues. Short period use of the radioactive amino acids result in labeling of only very long proteins, while longer periods of labeling result in several different short polypeptides.
What part of the poliovirus would first interact with host cell ribosomes to mediate translation?
A) the poly-A tailB) the leader sequence
C) the VPg protein
D) the AUG in the leader sequence
E) the AUG at the start of the coding sequence
Answer: C
What conclusion is most consistent with the results of the radioactive labeling experiment?
A) The host cell cannot translate viral protein with the amino acid analogues.
B) Host cell ribosomes only translate the viral code into short polypeptides.
C) The RNA is only translated into a single long polypeptide, which is then cleaved into shorter ones.
D) The RNA is translated into short polypeptides, which are subsequently assembled into large ones.
E) The large radioactive polypeptides are coded by the host, whereas the short ones are coded for by the virus.
Answer: C
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