RNA Editing as a General Trait of Ebolaviruses

J Infect Dis. 2023 Nov 13;228(Suppl 7):S498-S507. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiad228.

Abstract

RNA editing has been discovered as an essential mechanism for the transcription of the glycoprotein (GP) gene of Ebola virus but not Marburg virus. We developed a rapid transcript quantification assay (RTQA) to analyze RNA transcripts generated through RNA editing and used immunoblotting with a pan-ebolavirus monoclonal antibody to confirm different GP gene-derived products. RTQA successfully quantified GP gene transcripts during infection with representative members of 5 ebolavirus species. Immunoblotting verified expression of the soluble GP and the transmembrane GP. Our results defined RNA editing as a general trait of ebolaviruses. The degree of editing, however, varies among ebolaviruses with Reston virus showing the lowest and Bundibugyo virus the highest degree of editing.

Keywords: RNA editing; ebolaviruses; glycoproteins; rapid transcript quantification assay.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Ebolavirus* / genetics
  • Glycoproteins
  • Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola* / genetics
  • Humans
  • RNA Editing

Substances

  • Glycoproteins
  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal