Abstract
Ordinarily, ribosomes rigorously maintain the reading frame of messenger RNA (mRNA) molecules being translated into proteins. However, some mRNAs of viruses—and other, more complex organisms— sometimes carry special sequence information and structural elements in their mRNA molecules that enable ribosomes to slip, and adjust, reading frame. This programmed ribosomal frameshifting (PRF) enables viruses to pack more information into their genomes, whose sizes are limited due to the small volumes of viral capsids into which they are packaged. PRF also adjusts the ratios of structural and enzymatic proteins in viruses. Moreover, because small changes in PRF efficiency can alter these ratios and thereby disrupt viral assembly, PRF is a potential target for antiviral agents.
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