Key result
The influenza C virus matrix protein is coded for by a spliced mRNA from RNA segment 6, unlike influenza A and B viruses which use an unspliced mRNA.
Influenza C M splicing differs from A/B; leaves open segment 6 as antiviral target in orthomyxoviruses.
In contrast to influenza A and B viruses, which encode their matrix (M) proteins via an unspliced mRNA, the influenza C virus M protein appears to be coded for by a spliced mRNA from RNA segment 6. Although an open reading frame in RNA segment 6 of influenza C/JJ/50 virus could potentially code for a protein of 374 amino acids, a splicing event results in an mRNA coding for a 242-amino-acid M protein. The message for this protein represents the major M gene-specific mRNA species in C virus-infected cells. Despite the difference in coding strategies, there are sequence homologies among the M proteins of influenza A, B, and C viruses which confirm the evolutionary relationship of the three influenza virus types.
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Yamashita et al. (1988) studied Influenza C virus. Influenza C virus M protein coding strategy vs. Influenza A and B viruses was evaluated on M protein mRNA splicing. The influenza C virus matrix protein is coded for by a spliced mRNA from RNA segment 6, unlike influenza A and B viruses which use an unspliced mRNA.
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