doi.org
Extended poly(A) tails are a shared feature of herpesvirus mRNAs
Author summary Poly(A) tails are found on almost all cellular mRNAs and many viral mRNAs, serving as binding platforms for proteins that enhance translation and regulate mRNA stability. In this study, we used a new RNA sequencing approach, nanopore direct RNA sequencing, that allows us to measure poly(A) tails on individual mRNAs during infections by herpesviruses and other DNA and RNA viruses. We found that herpesvirus mRNAs consistently possess longer poly(A) tails than both host and other viral mRNAs, suggesting a widespread and previously unrecognized strategy to enhance viral gene expression. By contrast, coronavirus and poxvirus mRNAs exhibit poly(A) tail lengths comparable to host mRNAs. While non-As are present within some herpesviral poly(A) tails, which could potentially slow poly(A) tail degradation, this “mixed tailing” occurs too infrequently to account for the broadly extended tails observed.
