Human astroviruses: in silico analysis of the untranslated region and putative binding sites of cellular proteins.

Human astrovirus (HAstV) constitutes a major cause of acute gastroenteritis in children. The viral 5' and 3' untranslated regions (UTR) have been involved in the regulation of several molecular mechanisms. However, in astrovirues have been less characterized.

PTB binds to the 3' untranslated region of the human astrovirus type 8: a possible role in viral replication.

The 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) of human astroviruses (HAstV) consists of two hairpin structures (helix I and II) joined by a linker harboring a conserved PTB/hnRNP1 binding site. The identification and characterization of cellular proteins that interact with the 3'UTR of HAstV-8 virus will help to uncover cellular requirements for viral functions. To this end, mobility shift assays and UV cross-linking were performed with uninfected and HAstV-8-infected cell extracts and HAstV-8 3'UTR probes.