Name: in vitro transcribed rna-based luciferase reporter assay to study translation regulation in poxvirus-infected cells
Uploaded: 2019-05-01T15:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about In Vitro Transcribed RNA-based Luciferase Reporter Assay to Study Translation Regulation in Poxvirus-infected Cells at JoVE.com

The project was funded by the National Institutes of Health (AI128406 www.nih.gov) to ZY and in part by Johnson Cancer Research Center (http://cancer.k-state.edu) in the form of Graduate Student Summer Stipend to PD.

1. Preparation of DNA Template by PCR for In Vitro Transcription
<ol>
	<li>To prepare the DNA template by PCR, design primers. When designing primers consider crucial characteristics like primer length, annealing temperature (Tm), GC content, 3&#8217; end with G or C etc. 
	NOTE: Discussed in detail in these literature25,26,27.</li>
	<li>Design primers to generate PCR amplicon ...

<ol>
	<li>Crick, F. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=On+protein+synthesis.">On protein synthesis.</a> Symposia of the Society for Experimental Biology. 12, 138-163 (1958).</li><li>Crick, F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Central+Dogma+of+Molecular+Biology.">Central Dogma of Molecular Biology.</a> Nature. 227, 561-563 (1970).</li><li>Sonenberg, N., Hinnebusch, A. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Regulation+of+Translation+Initiation+in+Eukaryotes:+Mechanisms+and+Biological+Targets.">Regulation of Translation Initiation in Eukaryotes: Mechanisms and Biological Targets.</a> Cell. 136, 731-745 (2009).</li><li>Spriggs, K. A., Bushell, M., Willis, A. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Translational+Regulation+of+Gene+Expression+during+Conditions+of+Cell+Stress.">Translational Regulation of Gene Expression during Conditions of Cell Stress.</a> Molecular Cell. 40, 228-237 (2010).</li><li>Shchelkunov, S. N., Marennikova, S. S., Moyer, R. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Orthopoxviruses Pathogenic for Humans. , (2005).</li><li>Gale, M., Tan, S. L., Katze, M. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Translational+Control+of+Viral+Gene+Expression+in+Eukaryotes.">Translational Control of Viral Gene Expression in Eukaryotes.</a> Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews. 64, 239-280 (2000).</li><li>Walsh, D., Mathews, M. B., Mohr, I. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Tinkering+with+Translation:+Protein+Synthesis+in+Virus-Infected+Cells.">Tinkering with Translation: Protein Synthesis in Virus-Infected Cells.</a> Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology. 5, a012351 (2013).</li><li>Cao, S., Dhungel, P., Yang, Z. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Going+against+the+Tide:+Selective+Cellular+Protein+Synthesis+during+Virally+Induced+Host+Shutoff.">Going against the Tide: Selective Cellular Protein Synthesis during Virally Induced Host Shutoff.</a> Journal of Virology. 91, e00071-e00017 (2017).</li><li>Pelletier, J., Kaplan, G., Racaniello, V. R., Sonenberg, N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cap-independent+translation+of+poliovirus+mRNA+is+conferred+by+sequence+elements+within+the+5&#8217;+noncoding+region.">Cap-independent translation of poliovirus mRNA is conferred by sequence elements within the 5&#8217; noncoding region.</a> Molecular and Cellular Biology. 8, 1103-1112 (1988).</li><li>Pelletier, J., Sonenberg, N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Internal+initiation+of+translation+of+eukaryotic+mRNA+directed+by+a+sequence+derived+from+poliovirus+RNA.">Internal initiation of translation of eukaryotic mRNA directed by a sequence derived from poliovirus RNA.</a> Nature. 334, 320-325 (1988).</li><li>Guo, L., Allen, E., Miller, W. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Structure+and+function+of+a+cap-independent+translation+element+that+functions+in+either+the+3&#8242;+or+the+5&#8242;+untranslated+region.">Structure and function of a cap-independent translation element that functions in either the 3&#8242; or the 5&#8242; untranslated region.</a> RNA. 6, 1808-1820 (2000).</li><li>Simon, A. E., Miller, W. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=3&#8242;+Cap-Independent+Translation+Enhancers+of+Plant+Viruses.">3&#8242; Cap-Independent Translation Enhancers of Plant Viruses.</a> Annual Review of Microbiology. 67, 21-42 (2013).</li><li>Marom, L., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Diverse+poly(A)+binding+proteins+mediate+internal+translational+initiation+by+a+plant+viral+IRES.">Diverse poly(A) binding proteins mediate internal translational initiation by a plant viral IRES.</a> RNA Biology. 6, 446-454 (2009).</li><li>Liu, B., Qian, S. B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Translational+reprogramming+in+cellular+stress+response.">Translational reprogramming in cellular stress response.</a> Wiley Interdisciplinary Review. RNA. 5, 301-305 (2014).</li><li>Ahn, B. Y., Moss, B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Capped+poly(A)+leaders+of+variable+lengths+at+the+5&#8217;+ends+of+vaccinia+virus+late+mRNAs.">Capped poly(A) leaders of variable lengths at the 5&#8217; ends of vaccinia virus late mRNAs.</a> Journal of Virology. 63, 226-232 (1989).</li><li>Ahn, B. Y., Jones, E. V., Moss, B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Identification+of+the+vaccinia+virus+gene+encoding+an+18-kilodalton+subunit+of+RNA+polymerase+and+demonstration+of+a+5&#8217;+poly(A)+leader+on+its+early+transcript.">Identification of the vaccinia virus gene encoding an 18-kilodalton subunit of RNA polymerase and demonstration of a 5&#8217; poly(A) leader on its early transcript.</a> Journal of Virology. 64, 3019-3024 (1990).</li><li>Schwer, B., Visca, P., Vos, J. C., Stunnenberg, H. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Discontinuous+transcription+or+RNA+processing+of+vaccinia+virus+late+messengers+results+in+a+5&#8242;+poly(A)+leader.">Discontinuous transcription or RNA processing of vaccinia virus late messengers results in a 5&#8242; poly(A) leader.</a> Cell. 50, 163-169 (1987).</li><li>Yang, Z., Martens, C. A., Bruno, D. P., Porcella, S. F., Moss, B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Pervasive+initiation+and+3&#8242;+end+formation+of+poxvirus+post-replicative+RNAs.">Pervasive initiation and 3&#8242; end formation of poxvirus post-replicative RNAs.</a> Journal of Biological Chemistry. 287, 31050-31060 (2012).</li><li>Dhungel, P., Cao, S., Yang, Z. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+5&#8217;-poly(A)+leader+of+poxvirus+mRNA+confers+a+translational+advantage+that+can+be+achieved+in+cells+with+impaired+cap-dependent+translation.">The 5&#8217;-poly(A) leader of poxvirus mRNA confers a translational advantage that can be achieved in cells with impaired cap-dependent translation.</a> PLOS Pathogens. 13, e1006602 (2017).</li><li>Jha, S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Trans-kingdom+mimicry+underlies+ribosome+customization+by+a+poxvirus+kinase.">Trans-kingdom mimicry underlies ribosome customization by a poxvirus kinase.</a> Nature. 546, 651-655 (2017).</li><li>Dai, A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Ribosome+Profiling+Reveals+Translational+Upregulation+of+Cellular+Oxidative+Phosphorylation+mRNAs+during+Vaccinia+Virus-Induced+Host+Shutoff.">Ribosome Profiling Reveals Translational Upregulation of Cellular Oxidative Phosphorylation mRNAs during Vaccinia Virus-Induced Host Shutoff.</a> Journal of Virology. 91, e01858-e01816 (2017).</li><li>De Silva, F. S., Moss, B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Origin-independent+plasmid+replication+occurs+in+vaccinia+virus+cytoplasmic+factories+and+requires+all+five+known+poxvirus+replication+factors.">Origin-independent plasmid replication occurs in vaccinia virus cytoplasmic factories and requires all five known poxvirus replication factors.</a> Journal of Virology. 2, 23 (2005).</li><li>Yang, Z., Bruno, D. P., Martens, C. A., Porcella, S. F., Moss, B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Simultaneous+high-resolution+analysis+of+vaccinia+virus+and+host+cell+transcriptomes+by+deep+RNA+sequencing.">Simultaneous high-resolution analysis of vaccinia virus and host cell transcriptomes by deep RNA sequencing.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 107, 11513-11518 (2010).</li><li>Yang, Z., Bruno, D. P., Martens, C. A., Porcella, S. F., Moss, B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Genome-Wide+Analysis+of+the+5&#8242;+and+3&#8242;+Ends+of+Vaccinia+Virus+Early+mRNAs+Delineates+Regulatory+Sequences+of+Annotated+and+Anomalous+Transcripts.">Genome-Wide Analysis of the 5&#8242; and 3&#8242; Ends of Vaccinia Virus Early mRNAs Delineates Regulatory Sequences of Annotated and Anomalous Transcripts.</a> Journal of Virology. 85, 5897-5909 (2011).</li><li>Lorenz, T. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Polymerase+Chain+Reaction:+Basic+Protocol+Plus+Troubleshooting+and+Optimization+Strategies.">Polymerase Chain Reaction: Basic Protocol Plus Troubleshooting and Optimization Strategies.</a> Journal of Visualized Experiments. , (2012).</li><li>Dieffenbach, C. W., Lowe, T. M., Dveksler, G. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=General+concepts+for+PCR+primer+design.">General concepts for PCR primer design.</a> PCR Methods and Applications. 3, S30-S37 (1993).</li><li>Innis, M. A., Gelfand, D. H., Sninsky, J. J., White, T. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> PCR Protocols: A Guide to Methods and Applications. , (2012).</li><li>Baklanov, M. M., Golikova, L. N., Malygin, E. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Effect+on+DNA+Transcription+of+Nucleotide+Sequences+Upstream+to+T7+Promoter.">Effect on DNA Transcription of Nucleotide Sequences Upstream to T7 Promoter.</a> Nucleic Acids Research. 24, 3659-3660 (1996).</li><li>Thornton, J. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Splicing+by+Overlap+Extension+PCR+to+Obtain+Hybrid+DNA+Products.">Splicing by Overlap Extension PCR to Obtain Hybrid DNA Products.</a> The Genetic Manipulation of Staphylococci: Methods and Protocols. , 43-49 (2017).</li><li>Akichika, S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cap-specific+terminal+N6-methylation+of+RNA+by+an+RNA+polymerase+II&#8211;associated+methyltransferase.">Cap-specific terminal N6-methylation of RNA by an RNA polymerase II&#8211;associated methyltransferase.</a> Science. , (2018).</li><li>Sun, H., Zhang, M., Li, K., Bai, D., Yi, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cap-specific,+terminal+N6-methylation+by+a+mammalian+m6Am+methyltransferase.">Cap-specific, terminal N6-methylation by a mammalian m6Am methyltransferase.</a> Cell Research. 1, (2018).</li><li>Boulias, K., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Identification+of+the+m6Am+methyltransferase+PCIF1+reveals+the+location+and+functions+of+m6Am+in+the+transcriptome.">Identification of the m6Am methyltransferase PCIF1 reveals the location and functions of m6Am in the transcriptome.</a> bioRxiv. , 485862 (2018).</li><li>Dominissini, D., Rechavi, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=N4-acetylation+of+Cytidine+in+mRNA+by+NAT10+Regulates+Stability+and+Translation.">N4-acetylation of Cytidine in mRNA by NAT10 Regulates Stability and Translation.</a> Cell. 175, 1725-1727 (2018).</li><li>Wei, J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Differential+m6A,+m6Am,+and+m1A+Demethylation+Mediated+by+FTO+in+the+Cell+Nucleus+and+Cytoplasm.">Differential m6A, m6Am, and m1A Demethylation Mediated by FTO in the Cell Nucleus and Cytoplasm.</a> Molecular Cell. 71, 973-985 (2018).</li><li>Fu, Y., Dominissini, D., Rechavi, G., He, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Gene+expression+regulation+mediated+through+reversible+m6A+RNA+methylation.">Gene expression regulation mediated through reversible m6A RNA methylation.</a> Nature Reviews Genetics. 15, 293-306 (2014).</li></ol>

All four-core steps are critical to the success of the in vitro transcribed RNA-based luciferase reporter assay. Special attention should be given to primer design, especially for the T7 promoter sequence. T7 RNA polymerase starts transcription from the underlined first G (GGG-5&#39;-UTR-AUG-) in T7 promoter added before the 5&#39;-UTR sequence. Although the transcription start site (TSS) starts from the first G at the 5&#39; end, decreasing the number of G&#39;s less than three in T7 promoter region decreased the...

According to the central dogma, genetic information flows from DNA to RNA and then finally to protein1,2. This flow of genetic information is highly regulated at many levels including mRNA translation3,4. Development of reporter assays to measure regulation of gene expression will facilitate understanding of regulatory mechanisms involved in this process. Here we describe a protocol to study mRNA translation using an in vitro transcribed RNA-based luciferase reporter assay in poxvirus-infected cells.
Poxviruses comprise many highly dangerous human and animal pathogens5. Like all other viruses, poxviruses exclusively rely on host cell machinery for protein synthesis6,7,8. To efficiently synthesize viral proteins, viruses evolved many strategies to hijack cellular translational machinery to redirect it for translation of viral mRNAs7,8. One commonly employed mechanism by viruses is to use cis-acting elements in their transcripts. Notable examples include the Internal Ribosome Entry Site (IRES) and cap-independent translation enhancer (CITE)9,10,11. These cis-elements render the viral transcripts a translational advantage by attracting translational machinery via diverse mechanisms12,13,14. Over 100 poxvirus mRNAs have an evolutionarily conserved cis-acting element in the 5&#8217;-untranslated region (5&#8217;-UTR): a 5&#8217;-poly(A) leader at the very 5&#8217; ends of these mRNAs15,16. The lengths of these 5&#8217;-poly(A) leaders are heterogeneous and are generated by slippage of the poxvirus-encoded RNA polymerase during transcription17,18. We, and others, recently discovered that the 5&#8217;-poly(A) leader confers a translation advantage to an mRNA in cells infected with vaccinia virus (VACV), the prototypic member of poxviruses19,20.
The in vitro transcribed RNA-based luciferase reporter assay was initially developed to understand the role of 5&#8217;-poly(A) leader in mRNA translation during poxvirus infection19,21. Although plasmid DNA-based luciferase reporter assays have been widely used, there are several drawbacks that will complicate the result interpretation in poxvirus-infected cells. First, plasmids are able to replicate in VACV-infected cells22. Second, cryptic transcription often occurs from plasmid DNA18,23,24. Third, VACV promoter-driven transcription generates poly(A)-leader of heterogeneous lengths consequently making it difficult to control the poly(A)-leader length in some experiments18. An in vitro transcribed RNA-based luciferase reporter assay circumvents these issues and the data interpretation is straightforward.
There are four key steps in this method: (1) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to generate the DNA template for in vitro transcription; (2) in vitro transcription to generate mRNA; (3) transfection to deliver mRNA into cells; and (4) detection of luciferase activity as indicator of translation (Figure 1). The resulting PCR amplicon contains the following elements in 5&#8217; to 3&#8217; direction: T7-Promoter, poly(A) leader or desired 5&#8217;-UTR sequence, firefly luciferase open reading frame (ORF) followed by a poly(A) tail. PCR amplicon is used as the template to synthesize mRNA by in vitro transcription using T7 polymerase. During in vitro transcription, m7G cap or other cap analog is incorporated in newly synthesized mRNA. The capped transcripts are transfected into uninfected or VACV-infected cells. The cell lysate is collected at the desired time after transfection to measure luciferase activities that indicate protein production from transfected mRNA. This reporter assay can be used to study translation regulation by cis-element present in 5&#8217;-UTR, 3&#8217;-UTR or other regions of an mRNA. Furthermore, the in vitro transcribed RNA-based assay can be used to study different mechanisms of translation initiation including cap-dependent initiation, cap-independent initiation, re-initiation and internal initiation like IRES.

<table>
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>2X-Q5 Master mix</td>
			<td>New England Biolabs</td>
			<td>M0492</td>
			<td>High-Fidelity DNA Polymerase used in PCR</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>3&#180;-O-Me-m7G(5&#39;)ppp(5&#39;)G RNA Cap Structure Analog</td>
			<td>New England Biolabs</td>
			<td>S1411L</td>
			<td>Anti reverse Cap analog or ARCA</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Corning 96 Well Half-Area white flat bottom polystyrene microplate</td>
			<td>Corning</td>
			<td>3693</td>
			<td>Opaque walled 96 well white plate with solid bottom</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dual-Luciferase Reporter Assay System</td>
			<td>Promega</td>
			<td>E1960</td>
			<td>Dual-Luciferase Assay Kit (DLAK)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>E.Z.N.A. Cycle Pure Kit</td>
			<td>OMEGA BIO-TEK</td>
			<td>D6492</td>
			<td>PCR purification kit</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>GloMax Navigator Microplate Luminometer</td>
			<td>Promega</td>
			<td>GM2010</td>
			<td>Referred as multimode plate reader luminometer</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>HiScribe T7 Quick High Yield RNA synthesis Kit</td>
			<td>New England Biolabs</td>
			<td>E2050S</td>
			<td>In-Vitro transcription kit</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Lipofectamine 2000</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>11668019</td>
			<td>Cationic lipid transfection reagent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NanoDrop2000</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>ND-2000</td>
			<td>Used to measure DNA and RNA concentration</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Opti-MEM</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>31985070</td>
			<td>Reduced serum media</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Purelink RNA Mini Kit</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>12183018A</td>
			<td>RNA purification kit</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Vaccinia Capping System</td>
			<td>New England Biolabs</td>
			<td>M2080</td>
			<td>Capping system</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

in vitro transcribed rna-based luciferase reporter assay to study translation regulation in poxvirus-infected cells

Every poxvirus mRNA transcribed after viral DNA replication has an evolutionarily conserved, non-templated 5&#39;-poly(A) leader in the 5&#39;-UTR. To dissect the role of 5&#39;-poly(A) leader in mRNA translation during poxvirus infection we developed an in vitro transcribed RNA-based luciferase reporter assay. This reporter assay comprises of four core steps: (1) PCR to amplify the DNA template for in vitro transcription; (2) in vitro transcription to generate mRNA using T7 RNA polymerase; (3) Transfection to introduce in vitro transcribed mRNA into cells; (4) Detection of luciferase activity as the indicator of translation. The RNA-based luciferase reporter assay described here circumvents issues of plasmid replication in poxvirus-infected cells and cryptic transcription from the plasmid. This protocol can be used to determine translation regulation by cis-elements in an mRNA including 5&#39;-UTR and 3&#39;-UTR in systems other than poxvirus-infected cells. Moreover, different modes of translation initiation like cap-dependent, cap-independent, re-initiation, and internal initiation can be investigated using this method.

The four steps of in vitro transcribed RNA-based luciferase reporter assay: PCR to generate DNA template for In vitro transcription, in vitro transcription to generate mRNA, mRNA transfection, and luciferase measurement, can be seen in the schematic diagram (Figure 1). Designing of primers for both DNA templates (Fluc and Rluc) and the general scheme of overhang extension PCR is illustrated in the schematic (Figure 2A). After PCR...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about In Vitro Transcribed RNA-based Luciferase Reporter Assay to Study Translation Regulation in Poxvirus-infected Cells at JoVE.com

In Vitro Transcribed RNA-based Luciferase Reporter Assay to Study Translation Regulation in Poxvirus-infected Cells

We present a protocol to study mRNA translation regulation in poxvirus-infected cells using in vitro Transcribed RNA-based luciferase reporter assay. The assay can be used for studying translation regulation by cis-elements of an mRNA, including 5&#8217;-untranslated region (UTR) and 3&#8217;-UTR. Different translation initiation modes can also be examined using this method.

Every poxvirus mRNA transcribed after viral DNA replication has an evolutionarily conserved, non-templated 5&#39;-poly(A) leader in the 5&#39;-UTR. To ...

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An In vitro Model to Study Immune Responses of Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells to Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection

An In vitro Model to Study Immune Responses of Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells to Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection

Human respiratory syncytial  virus (HRSV) infections present a broad spectrum of disease severity, ranging  from mild infections to life-threatening ...

In Vitro and In Vivo Model to Study Bacterial Adhesion to the Vessel Wall Under Flow Conditions

In Vitro and In Vivo Model to Study Bacterial Adhesion to the Vessel Wall Under Flow Conditions

In order to cause endovascular infections and infective endocarditis, bacteria need to be able to adhere to the vessel wall while being exposed to the ...

Neutrophil Isolation and Analysis to Determine their Role in Lymphoma Cell Sensitivity to Therapeutic Agents

Neutrophils are the most abundant (40% to 75%) type of white blood cells and among the first inflammatory cells to migrate towards the site of ...

A Novel Feeder-free System for Mass Production of Murine Natural Killer Cells In Vitro

A Novel Feeder-free System for Mass Production of Murine Natural Killer Cells In Vitro

Natural killer (NK) cells belong to the innate immune system and are a first-line anti-cancer immune defense; however, they are suppressed in the tumor ...

A Novel In Vitro Wound Healing Assay to Evaluate Cell Migration

A Novel In Vitro Wound Healing Assay to Evaluate Cell Migration

The aim of this work is to show a novel method to evaluate the ability of some immunomodulatory molecules, such as antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), to ...