Abstract
The prokaryotic translation elongation factors were identified as essential cofactors for RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity of the bacteriophage Qβ more than 40 years ago. A growing body of evidence now shows that eukaryotic translation elongation factors (eEFs), predominantly eEF1A, acting in partially characterized complexes sometimes involving additional eEFs, facilitate virus replication. The functions of eEF1A as a protein chaperone and an RNA- and actin-binding protein enable its "moonlighting" roles as a virus replication cofactor. A diverse group of viruses, from human immunodeficiency type 1 and West Nile virus to tomato bushy stunt virus, have adapted to use eEFs as cofactors for viral transcription, translation, assembly, and pathogenesis. Here we review the mechanisms used by viral pathogens to usurp these abundant cellular proteins for their replication.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Review
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Eukaryotic Initiation Factors / chemistry
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Eukaryotic Initiation Factors / genetics
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Eukaryotic Initiation Factors / metabolism*
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Genome, Viral
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Humans
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Peptide Elongation Factor 1 / chemistry
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Peptide Elongation Factor 1 / genetics
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Peptide Elongation Factor 1 / metabolism
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Protein Conformation
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Protein Isoforms / chemistry
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Protein Isoforms / genetics
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Protein Isoforms / metabolism
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Protein Subunits / chemistry
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Protein Subunits / genetics
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Protein Subunits / metabolism
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RNA Viruses / genetics*
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RNA Viruses / pathogenicity
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RNA Viruses / physiology
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RNA, Viral / genetics
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RNA, Viral / metabolism*
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Tombusvirus / genetics
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Tombusvirus / pathogenicity
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Tombusvirus / physiology
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Virus Assembly
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Virus Replication*
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West Nile virus / genetics
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West Nile virus / pathogenicity
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West Nile virus / physiology
Substances
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EEF1A1 protein, human
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Eukaryotic Initiation Factors
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Peptide Elongation Factor 1
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Protein Isoforms
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Protein Subunits
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RNA, Viral