Nucleotide sequence complementarity between adenovirus 2-coded VA RNA and host cell pre-mRNA. A possible regulatory mechanism of cellular RNA splicing by VA RNA.

Using a computer program, complementary of nucleotide sequences was assessed between adenovirus 2-coded VA RNA and presumptive cellular and viral 'pre-mRNAs'. In this paper, the possibility is considered that the splicing of cellular 'pre-mRNA' can be regulated in such a way that the formation of the proper intramolecular double-stranded hairpin structures, key elements for RNA splicing, is prevented by the binding of VA RNAI or RNAII to the nucleotide sequences around the exon-intron and intron-exon joint sites of cellular 'pre-mRNA' molecules. Complementarity assessment showed that VA RNAI can bind to the joint sites in such a way as to form an omega shape at two separate regions around the joint sites of cellular 'pre-mRNA'. Whereas VA RNAI is not capable of binding to viral hexon 'pre-mRNA' in the same manner as it does to cellular 'pre-mRNA', the binding may occur in a different way. Such differential binding is discussed in relation to the post-transcriptional sequence selection which takes place during the late phase of adenovirus infection.