Some papers discussing the function/structure/evolution of IRES elements, particularly in picornaviruses

Structure/function

• • Martinez-Salas E.  The impact of RNA structure on picornavirus IRES activity.  Trends Microbiol. 2008 May;16(5):230-7. Epub 2008 Apr 15.
  • Fernandez-Miragall O, Lopez de Quinto S, Martinez-Salas E.  Relevance of RNA structure for the activity of picornavirus IRES elements.  Virus Res. 2009 Feb;139(2):172-82. Epub 2008 Aug 15.
  • Belsham GJ.  Divergent picornavirus IRES elements.  Virus Res. 2009 Feb;139(2):183-92. Epub 2008 Aug 20.
  • Balvay L, Soto Rifo R, Ricci EP, Decimo D, Ohlmann T.  Structural and functional diversity of viral IRESes.  Biochim Biophys Acta. 2009 Sep-Oct;1789(9-10):542-57. Epub 2009 Jul 24.
  • Fernandez-Miragall O, Martinez-Salas E.  In vivo footprint of a picornavirus internal ribosome entry site reveals differences in accessibility to specific RNA structural elements.  J Gen Virol. 2007 Nov;88(Pt 11):3053-62.
  • Le SY, Maizel JV Jr.  Evolution of a common structural core in the internal ribosome entry sites of picornavirus.  Virus Genes. 1998;16(1):25-38.
  • Martinez-Salas E, Regalado MP, Domingo E.  Identification of an essential region for internal initiation of translation in the aphthovirus internal ribosome entry site and implications for viral evolution.  J Virol. 1996 Feb;70(2):992-8.
  • Balvay L, Soto Rifo R, Ricci EP, Decimo D, Ohlmann T.  Structural and functional diversity of viral IRESes.  Biochim Biophys Acta. 2009 Sep-Oct;1789(9-10):542-57. Epub 2009 Jul 24.

Origin/Evolution

• • Dennin RH, Wo J, Chen Z, Roos C.  DNA of nonhuman primates harbors hepatitis C-virus-specific sequences of its 5'-non-coding region (5'-NCR).  Z Gastroenterol. 2000 Dec;38(12):925-31.
  • Hellen CU, de Breyne S.  A distinct group of hepacivirus/pestivirus-like internal ribosomal entry sites in members of diverse picornavirus genera: evidence for modular exchange of functional noncoding RNA elements by recombination.  J Virol. 2007 Jun;81(11):5850-63. Epub 2007 Mar 28.

Targeting the IRES as an antiviral strategy.

• HCV is not a picornavirus, but there is evidence for ancient flavivirus-picornavirus recombination transferring the IRES). HCV and picorna IRESs function similarly but not identically.
  • Parsons J, Castaldi MP, Dutta S, Dibrov SM, Wyles DL, Hermann T.  Conformational inhibition of the hepatitis C virus internal ribosome entry site RNA.  Nat Chem Biol. 2009 Nov;5(11):823-5. Epub 2009 Sep 20.
  • Gamble C, Trotard M, Le Seyec J, Abreu-Guerniou V, Gernigon N, Berree F, Carboni B, Felden B, Gillet R.  Antiviral effect of ribonuclease conjugated oligodeoxynucleotides targeting the IRES RNA of the hepatitis C virus.  Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 2009 Jul 1;19(13):3581-5. Epub 2009 May 4.
  • Kanda T, Steele R, Ray R, Ray RB.  Small interfering RNA targeted to hepatitis C virus 5' nontranslated region exerts potent antiviral effect.  J Virol. 2007 Jan;81(2):669-76. Epub 2006 Nov 1.
  • Gallego J, Varani G.  The hepatitis C virus internal ribosome-entry site: a new target for antiviral research.  Biochem Soc Trans. 2002 Apr;30(2):140-5.
  • Jubin R.  Targeting hepatitis C virus translation: stopping HCV where it starts.  Curr Opin Investig Drugs. 2003 Feb;4(2):162-7.