Influenza Virus transcription:
How to steal a Cap!

yes... that is right how to "steal" a cap. not "bust" a cap =]

Starts with knowing actinomycin D inhibits DNA based transcription; followed by alpha- amanitin blocks transcription by cell's RNA polymerase II.

1. Globin mRNA stimulates in vitro transcription
2. Remove cap with tobacco acid pyrophosphatase.
Uncapped mRNA does not stimulate in vitro transcription
3. Re-cap with 32P GTP
4. in vitro transcription without 32 GTP

what this all means...

1. messenger RNA stimulates transcription (the process of DNA --> RNA)
2. CAP is the protein on the end of the RNA that protects the string of nucleotides from being denatured/eaten; meaning that once removed that it is NOT PROTECTED from being excised (cut out)
3. Re Capped with 32 P GTP allows for labeling radioactively.
4. In vitro transcription allows for the newly transcribed RNA strands