cap snatching

Term ID

GO:0075526

Synonyms

• cap snatching involved in viral mRNA transcription

Definition

A transcription initiation process during which a nucleotide sequence between 10 and 20 nucleotides in size is cleaved from the 5' end of host mRNAs by a viral RNA-dependent polymerase. The capped leader sequence obtained is subsequently used to prime transcription on the viral genome, which ultimately leads to the synthesis of capped, translatable viral mRNAs.

References

• VZ:839

Ontology

GO: Biological Process    QuickGO    AmiGO