transfection of hepg2 cells with...
TRANSCRIPT
UNIVERSITI PUTRA MALAYSIA
TRANSFECTION OF HEPG2 CELLS WITH BACTERIOPHAGES T7 AND M13 DISPLAYING REGIONS OF
HEPATITIS B SURFACE ANTIGEN
TANG KIE HIE
FBSB 2008 17
TRANSFECTION OF HEPG2 CELLS WITH BACTERIOPHAGES
T7 AND M13 DISPLAYING REGIONS OF
HEPATITIS B SURFACE ANTIGEN
By
TANG KIE HIE
Thesis Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies, Universiti Putra
Malaysia, in Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science
December 2008
Abstract of thesis presented to the Senate of Universiti Putra Malaysia in fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Science
TRANSFECTION OF HEPG2 CELLS WITH BACTERIOPHAGES T7
AND M13 DISPLAYING REGIONS OF HEPATITIS B SURFACE ANTIGENS
By
TANG KIE HIE
Dec 2008
Chairman: Associate Professor Dr Tan Wen Siang, PhD
Faculty: Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences
Hepatitis B is a major public health problem worldwide that may lead to chronic
liver diseases, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. It is caused by hepatitis B
virus (HBV) which is responsible for 500,000 deaths annually. The preS domain
of HBV particularly amino acids 21-47, is believed to be involved in the initial
step of HBV infection through attachment to hepatocyte. In order to study virus-
cell interactions, both T7 and M13 bacteriophages have been genetically
modified to display regions of Hepatitis B surface antigens. In the present study,
the recombinant T7 and M13 phages were used to transfect human
hepatocarcinoma cell line HepG2. Interestingly, T7-PreS1/2 carrying the second
half of preS1 (residues 60-108), but not T7-PreS1/1 which carried the first half of
preS1 (residues 1-47), was demonstrated to be the most effective in transfecting
HepG2 cells in a dose- and time-dependant manner. The DNA of phage could be
recovered from cell lysate and confirmed by PCR whereas infectious form of
internalized phage was measured by plaque forming assay. Under fluorescence
microscope, internalized phage exhibited the appearance as fluorescent dots. On
the other hand, M13-PreS carrying the preS region showed low efficiency of
ii
transfection, thus suggesting that the interaction is also dependant on the valency
of targeting ligand. Surprisingly, unmodified phages (MOI ≈ 1.25 × 105) were
also capable of transfecting HepG2 at low efficiency and were thought to be
taken up by nonspecific uptake. Dynamic light scattering analysis has been
carried out to determine the thermostability of recombinant phages. The display
of HBV surface antigen did not affect the stability of phages since no significant
differences in thermostability were observed between control and recombinant
phages. The ability and stability of recombinant phages to transfect HepG2 cells
demonstrate the potential of phage displayed system as gene therapy for liver
cancer.
iii
Abstrak tesis yang dikemukakan kepada Senat Universiti Putra Malaysia sebagai memenuhi keperluan untuk ijazah Master Sains
TRANSFEKSI SEL HEPG2 DENGAN BAKTERIOFAJ T7 DAN M13 YANG MEMPAMERKAN KAWASAN ANTIGEN PERMUKAAN
HEPATITIS B
Oleh
TANG KIE HIE
Dis 2008
Pengerusi: Profesor Madya Dr Tan Wen Siang, PhD
Fakulti: Bioteknologi dan Sains Biomolekul
Hepatitis B merupakan masalah utama kesihatan awam sedunia yang
menyebabkan penyakit hati kronik, sirosis dan barah hati. Penyakit ini
disebabkan oleh virus hepatitis B (HBV) dan menjadi punca kematian sebanyak
500,000 setiap tahun. Kawasan liputan preS HBV terutamanya asid amino 21-47,
dipercayai terlibat dalam jangkitan awal HBV melalui pelekatan pada hepatosit.
Untuk mempelajari interaksi virus-sel, genetik bakteriofaj T7 and M13 telah
diubah-suai untuk mempamerkan kawasan-kawasan antigen permukaan Hepatitis
B. Dalam kajian ini, faj rekombinan T7 and M13 digunakan untuk menjangkiti
sel barah manusia HepG2. Yang menariknya, T7-PreS1/2 yang membawa
separuh kedua preS1 (residu 60-108), dan bukannya T7-PreS1/1 yang membawa
separuh pertama preS1 (residu 1-47), didapati paling berkesan dalam transfeksi
sel-sel HepG2 bergantung kepada dos faj dan masa. DNA faj boleh didapati di
dalam sel dan disahkan dengan PCR manakala faj berjangkit dalaman dapat
dikira melalui ujian pembentukan plak. Faj dalaman dapat dilihat sebagai bintik-
bintik pendarfluor dengan mikroskop pendarfluor. Sementara itu, M13-PreS
iv
yang membawa kawasan preS menunjukkan transfeksi dengan effisiensi yang
rendah, mencadangkan bahawa perhubungan tersebut juga bergantung kepada
valensi ligan penujuan. Yang menakjubkannya, faj (MOI ≈ 1.25 × 105) yang
tidak diubah-suai juga berupaya menjangkiti HepG2 dengan effisiensi transfeksi
yang rendah dan dijangka melalui mekanisma tidak spesifik. Analisis serakan
cahaya dinamik telah dijalankan untuk menentukan kestabilan haba faj
rekombinan. Pameran antigen permukaan HBV didapati tidak menjejaskan
kestabilan faj memandangkan tiada perbezaan ketara diperhatikan antara
kestabilan haba faj kawalan dan rekombinan. Oleh itu, kebolehan dan kestabilan
faj dalam menjangkiti sel HepG2 telah menunjukkan potensi sistem pameran faj
sebagai terapi gen untuk barah hati.
v
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I wish to thank a lot of wonderful people whose valuable support and
encouragement made possible this study and thesis completion. First, I wish to
express my deepest appreciation to my supervisor, Associate Professor Dr. Tan
Wen Siang for being very supportive and patient throughout the period of this
study. His guidance and ideas have definitely inspired me in doing science and
greatly motivated myself in overcoming problems. I am also very grateful to my
second supervisor, Professor Datin Paduka Dr. Khatijah Mohd. Yusoff, for her
helpful discussions and suggestions. Her invaluable advices and constructive
criticisms really enlightened me.
Many thanks go to the staff members from the Department of Microbiology and
Institute of Biosciences for helping in my experiments. I wish also to
acknowledge members of Laboratories 134 and 143, especially Ong Swee Tin,
Michelle Ng, Ho Chin Woi, Yap Wei Boon, Jason Lee, Loh Lip Nam, Senthil
Kumar, Chew Few Ne, Chong Fui Chin, Rattana Wongchupan, Tang Kah Fai,
Eddie Chia, Nicole Ngai and Erin Lim. Many thanks for their sharing of
scientific knowledge and inspirations. I will not forget the wonderful and joyful
time we spent in the laboratories.
A personal appreciation goes to my housemates: Cheng Ai, Hock Ngiik, Peng
Choo and Ley Fong. Thank you very much for accompanying and encouraging
me during the toughest time. I will always remember the care and love that you
all gave throughout the stay.
vi
Last but not least, I would like to extend my thanks to my parents and brothers
for their patience, sacrifices, understanding and never-ending love that brought
me to the completion of this study.
vii
I certify that a Thesis Examination Committee has met on 1 December 2008 to conduct the final examination of Tang Kie Hie on her thesis entitled “Transfection of HepG2 Cells with Bacteriophages T7 and M13 Displaying Regions of Hepatitis B Surface Antigens” in accordance with the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 and the Constitution of the Universiti Putra Malaysia [P.U.(A) 106] 15 March 1998. The Committee recommends that the student be awarded the Master of Science. Members of the Examination Committee were as follows: Wan Zuhainis Saad, PhD Lecturer Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences Universiti Putra Malaysia (Chairman) Norazizah Shafee, PhD Lecturer Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences Universiti Putra Malaysia (Internal Examiner) Syahida Ahmad, PhD Lecturer Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences (Internal Examiner) Wan Kiew Lian, PhD Associate Professor Faculty of Science and Technology Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (External Examiner) ________________________ BUJANG KIM HUAT, PhD Professor and Deputy Dean, School of Graduate Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia. Date: 19 March 2009
viii
This thesis was submitted to the Senate of Universiti Putra Malaysia and has been accepted as fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Science. The members of the Supervisory Committee were as follows: TAN WEN SIANG, PhD Associate Professor Department of Microbiology Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences Universiti Putra Malaysia (Supervisor) KHATIJAH YUSOFF, PhD Professor Department of Microbiology Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences Universiti Putra Malaysia (Member) ________________________________ HASANAH MOHD GHAZALI, PhD Professor and Dean, School of Graduate Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia. Date: 19 March 2009
ix
DECLARATION
I hereby declare that this thesis is based on my original work except for quotations and citations which have been duly acknowledged. I also declare that it has not been previously or concurrently submitted for any other degrees at UPM or other institutions. _______________ TANG KIE HIE Date: 16 January 2009
x
TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT ii ABSTRAK iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS vi APPROVAL viii DECLARATION x TABLE OF CONTENTS xi LIST OF TABLES xiii LIST OF FIGURES xiv LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS xv CHAPTER
1. INTRODUCTION Introduction 1
2. LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) 3 2.1.1 HBV Morphology 3 2.1.2 Genomic Organisation and Viral Transcripts 3 2.1.3 Hepadnavirus Replication 6 2.1.4 Surface Antigens 9 2.1.5 Transmission 12 2.1.6 Treatment of HBV 13 2.1.7 Prevention of HBV 14 2.1.8 Hepatocellular Carcinoma 15 2.2 Bacteriophage T7 16 2.2.1 Morphology and Structure 16 2.2.2 Life Cycle of T7 phage 17 2.3 Bacteriophage M13 19 2.3.1 Mophology and Structure 19 2.3.2 Life Cycle of Filamentous Phages 20 2.4 Phage Display and Applications 23 2.5 Biosafety of Phages for Applications in Human 25
3. MATERIALS AND METHODS
3.1 Materials 27 3.1.1 Media, Buffers and Solutions 27 3.1.2 Cell Lines 29 3.1.3 Bacteria Strains and Plasmids 29 3.1.4 Bacteriophages 29 3.1.5 Primers 30 3.2 Preparation of Bacteriophages 31 3.2.1 Bacteriophage T7 31 3.2.2 Bacteriophage M13 34
xi
3.2.3 Amplification of DNA 36 3.2.4 Agarose Gel Electrophoresis 37 3.2.5 Light Scattering Analysis 38 3.3 Maintenance of Cell Line 39 3.3.1 Thawing the Cells 39 3.3.2 Subculturing the Cells 39 3.3.3 Storing the Cells 40 3.3.4 Counting the Cells 40 3.4 Transfection of Cell Line with Bacteriophages 41 3.4.1 Seeding 41 3.4.2 Transfection 41 3.4.3 Harvesting the Cells 41 3.4.4 DNA Extraction 42 3.5 Immunofluorescence 43
4. RESULTS
Identification of Recombinant Phages and Phagemid 44 Verification of Recombinant Phage by PCR 45
Confirmation of Recombinant Phages by DNA 46 Sequencing
Analysis of Transfected HepG2 DNA by PCR 48 Phage Internalization 53
4.3.1 Plaque Assay 53 4.3.2 Immunofluorescence 55
Dynamic Light Scattering Measurement 59
5. DISCUSSION 5.1 Display of PreS1 and S Regions on T7 Phage 64 5.2 Display of PreS Region on M13 Phage 66 5.3 Transfection of HepG2 with Phages 67 5.4 Fluorescence Microscopy 68 5.5 Phage Internalization via Receptor-Mediated Endocytosis 69 5.6 Dynamic Light Scattering Analysis of Phages 74
6. CONCLUSION 76 REFERRENCES 80 APPENDICES 93 A1 T7Select 415-1b Vector Map 93 A2 pCANTAB 5E Vector Map 94 BIODATA OF THE STUDENT 96
xii
LIST OF TABLES
Table Page
2.1 Applications of phage display 24
3.1 Media 27
3.2 Buffers and solutions 28
3.3 Bacteria strains 29
3.4 Phagemid 29
3.5 Bacteriophages 30
3.6 Oligonucleotides for amplification of phage DNA 30
3.7 Ratio of CsCl:TE in centrifuge tube 32
3.8 PCR conditions for primers 37
4.1 DLS data for purified T7 phages measured at various temperatures 60
4.2 DLS data for M13 phages measured at various temperatures 62
xiii
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure Page
2.1 Transcriptional and translational map of HBV 5
2.2 The hepadnaviral replication cycle 8
2.3 Schematic representation of L protein 9
2.4 A T7 phage particle 16
2.5 Replication cycles of lytic phages 18
2.6 A filamentous bacteriophage M13 particle 19
2.7 M13 life cycle 21
4.1 Diagrams of vector map and regions amplified by primers for confirmation of recombinant phages and phagemid
44
4.2 Verification of recombinant phages by PCR 46
4.3 Chromatogram showing the sequencing results of T7-S (a), T7-PreS1/1 (b), T7-PreS1/2 (c) and pCANTAB5E-PreS (d)
47
4.4 PCR analysis of extrachromosomal DNA from T7-transfected (24 h) HepG2 cells
49
4.5 PCR analysis of extrachromosomal DNA from T7-transfected (72 h) HepG2 cells
50
4.6 PCR analysis of extrachromosomal DNA from M13-transfected HepG2 cells
52
4.7 In vitro internalization assay of transfected HepG2 cells 54
4.8 Detection of internalized T7 phages in HepG2 cells by fluorescent microscopy
56
4.9 Detection of internalized M13 phages in HepG2 cells by fluorescent microscopy
58
5.1 A schematic diagram of the wild type T7 and T7Select 415-1b vector
65
xiv
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
α alfa
β beta
ε epsilon
λ lambda
°C degree centigrade
μ micron
AFB1 aflatoxin B1
AUG start codon
aa amino acid
BSA bovine serum albumin
bp base pair
CsCl cesium chloride
cccDNA covalently closed circular DNA
dsDNA double-stranded deoxyribonucleic
DHBV duck HBV
DLS dynamic light scattering
DNA deoxyribonucleic acid
DNase deoxyribonuclease
DR direct repeat
Dт translational diffusion coefficient
dNTP deoxynucleoside triphosphate
EDTA ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid
ELISA enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
xv
EN enhancer
FBA fluorescent-bacteriophage assay
FBS fetal bovine serum
GFP green fluorescence protein
GSHV ground squirrel hepatitis virus
g gram
h hour
HBIG Hepatitis B Immune Globulin
HBV hepatitis B virus
HBcAg hepatitis B core antigen
HBeAg hepatitis B e antigen
HBsAg hepatitis B surface antigen
HCC hepatocellular carcinoma
HCl hydrochloride
HepG2 human hepatocellular liver carcinoma cell line
IgE Immunoglobulin E
kDa kilodalton
kb kilobase
L-HBsAg large surface antigen
M Molar
MHC major histocompatibility complex
M-HBsAg medium surface antigen
mW miliwatt
mRNA messenger ribonucleic acid
NTE sodium-tris-EDTA
xvi
NaCl sodium chloride
NaOH sodium hydroxide
N-terminal amino-terminal
nm nanometer
OD optical density
ORF open reading frame
PBS phosphate-buffered saline
PC precore
PCR polymerase chain reaction
PEG polyethylene glycol
PreS1 N-terminal region of L-HBsAg comprising 108 or 119
amino acid
PreS2 region of M and L-HBsAg comprising 55 amino acid
pH Puissance hydrogene
pHSA polymerized human serum albumin
pfu plaque forming unit
pgRNA pregenomic ribonucleic acid
RF replicative form
RME receptor-mediated endocytosis
RNA ribonucleic acid
RNase ribonuclease
Rh hydrodynamic radius
rcDNA relax-circular deoxyribonucleic acid
SCCA1 squamous cell carcinoma antigen 1
SOC small outer capsid
xvii
xviii
S-HBsAg small surface antigen
ssDNA single-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid
TLM translocation motif
TAE Tris-acetate-EDTA
TE Tris-EDTA
WHV woodchucks hepatitis virus
xg centrifugal force
V volt
v/v volume/volume
vol volume
w/v weight/volume
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the prototype of Hepadnaviridae, a family
which includes related hepatitis viruses which infect woodchucks (WHV),
ground squirrels (GSHV) and Pekin ducks (DHBV) (Summers and Mason,
1982). Worldwide, two billion people have been infected with HBV of which
400 million are chronically infected. Chronic infection of HBV causes
progressive liver diseases and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) that responsible
for around 500,000 deaths each year (Perz et al., 2006).
To date, alpha interferon therapy can be used for treatment of chronic
HBV infection. Nevertheless, it is ineffective in more than 50% of carriers
(Hoofnagle and Di Bisceglie, 1997) and it is associated with several side effects
(Torre and Tambini, 1996). Other therapy using nucleoside analogs and
inhibitors of virus replication have led to development of drug-resistant mutants
due to high rate of viral turn over and error-prone polymerase (Locarnini and
Omata, 2006).
A vaccine derived from inactivated hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)
purified from human plasma was first licensed in the United States, followed by
yeast- and mammalian-derived hepatitis B vaccines which are now widely used
(Shouval et al., 1994; Mahoney, 1999). The ultimate goal of hepatitis B
vaccination is to control HBV-related chronic liver diseases and hepatocellular
1
2
carcinoma. However, HBV with molecular variants in the ‘a’ determinant of
HBsAg make it unsusceptible for recognition and neutralisation by anti-HBsAg
antibodies.
Gene therapy has been recognized as one of the most promising
approaches in curing cancers (Verma and Sonia, 1997). The technology requires
a gene delivery vehicle capable of targeting a therapeutic gene to the selected cell
type with high efficiency without stimulating significant immune, inflammatory
and cytotoxic responses (Michael and Curiel, 1994). Hence, the use of phage
display systems for mammalian gene transfer is of great interest due to their
stability, direct linkage between genotype and phenotype, inexpensive mass
production or purification and excellent safety profile in mammalian cells
(Larocca and Baird, 2001). By displaying targeting sequences on the phage coat,
bacteriophage vectors which exhibit no natural tropism for mammalian cells may
confer mammalian cell-type specific tropism through receptor-mediated
endocytosis (RME) (Varga et al., 2000), thus offer an advantage in targeting
treatment of cancer.
In the present study, T7 and M13 phages displaying regions of HBsAg
which are believed to be involved in infectivity and attachment site for
hepatocytes, were used for targeting human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line
(HepG2). Therefore, this study was aimed to examine the ability of genetically-
targeted T7 and M13 phages in delivering their genes and internalise to HepG2
cells. The thermostability of T7 and M13 particles was also tested with dynamic
light scattering (DLS).
CHAPTER 2
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Hepatitis B Virus (HBV)
2.1.1 HBV Morphology
Human HBV is an enveloped DNA virus grouped under the family
Hepadnaviridae and genus Orthohepadnavirus (Ganem and Varmus, 1987).
Internal to the envelope is the viral nucleocapsid that comprises of core proteins,
a partially double stranded DNA genome of 3.2 kb and a polymerase protein (P)
(Ganem, 1991). HBV has three forms of surface antigens (HBsAg): large L-
HBsAg, middle M-HBsAg and small S-HBsAg that are embedded in the
envelope of the virion. During HBV infection of an individual, HBsAg particles
containing only HBsAg are produced in great abundance. These noninfectious
particles exist as spherical and filamentous forms of 22 nm in diameter, which is
smaller than the 42 nm infectious Dane particles or HBV virion (Dane et al.,
1970).
2.1.2 Genomic Organisation and Viral Transcripts
A hepadnavirus virion contains two single-stranded linear DNA
molecules of different sizes which paired in an overlapping fashion with breaks
at both strands, producing a circular partially double stranded molecule. The
3
negative (−) strand is about 3200 bases long, which serves as the template for all
viral mRNA transcription, whereas the positive (+) strand varies in length, from
1700 to 2800 bases long. A protein, P is covalently attached to 5’ end of the (−)
strand (Gerlich and Robinson, 1980), while the (+) strand ends in a 19-base-long
RNA molecule. At the 5’ end of both strands, there is a pair of directly repeated
11-base-long sequences, designated as DR1 and DR2 that play crucial role in the
initiation of viral DNA synthesis (Lien et al., 1986; Will et al., 1987).
As shown in Figure 2.1, there are four open reading frames (ORF)
present in the DNA, which are C, P, S and X (Wei and Tiollais, 1999). ORF C
contains two in-frame start codons, AUGs, which encode the structural protein of
the HBV nucleocapsid (Pasek et al., 1979), and a hydrophobic polypeptide
bearing hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg). Instead of incorporating into HBV
virions, HBeAg is secreted from cells and accumulating in the serum. The ORF P
sequence overlaps the end of ORF C region and continues nearly to the end of
the DNA molecule. It encodes the viral polymerase which is utilised in the viral
genomic replication as well as the protein primer molecule that is attached to the
5’ end of (−) strand DNA (Bosch et al., 1988). Within the ORF P is the ORF S
which occurs with three in-frame initiation codons, resulting in the synthesis of
three related HBsAg. These proteins of 39 (L-HBsAg), 33 (M-HBsAg) and 24
kDa (S-HBsAg) in size are found on the surface of the virion (Valenzuela et al.,
1979; Wong et al., 1985).
Although there are four ORFs in HBV genome, only three mRNAs are
synthesized. In addition, the product of ORF X is not well understood. It appears
4
to encode possibly three trans active regulatory proteins that facilitate the
transcription from cellular and viral promoter sequences (Seeger and Mason,
2000).
Figure 2.1: Transcriptional and translational map of HBV. The inner circles represent the rcDNA. It comprises of a complete (−) strand DNA and an incomplete (+) strand DNA with the reverse transcriptase and a capped RNA oligomer attached to its 5’ end respectively. The position of direct repeat sequences, DR1 and DR2, and the enhancers, EN1 and EN2 are indicated. Three major viral RNAs, the core (C) or pgRNA, preS (L) mRNA an S mRNA are depicted by the outer circle, are controlled by several internal promoters at different sites but are all terminated at a common 3’ end, indicated by the letters A. In between the outer and inner circles are the four protein-coding regions which include precore (PC) and core genes, polymerase gene and X gene. The envelope genes, L, M and S overlap with the polymerase ORF (adapted from Seeger and Mason, 2000).
5
2.1.3 Hepadnavirus Replication
A hepadnavirus particle contains predominantly relaxed-circular DNA
molecules (rcDNA) with a complete minus (−) strand and a partially synthesized
plus (+) strand. A small amount of linear DNAs as a result of in situ priming is
also found. The (−) strand is covalently attached to a protein, the viral reverse
transcriptase at 5’ end while the (+) strand ends in a 19-base-long RNA (Voyles,
2002).
The life cycle of HBV (Figure 2.2) begins by attaching to the host cell
membrane via its envelope proteins and the virus release its genome into the
nucleoplasm (Lu et al., 1996; Kann et al., 2007). During initiation of infection,
the (+) strand is elongated until both strands are of essentially equal length. Both
the protein and RNA at the 5’ end are removed from the strands and a covalently
closed circular DNA (cccDNA) is formed when the viral genome reaches the
nucleus. The formation of cccDNA indicates successful initiation of infection as
the cccDNA serves as a template for mRNA transcription (Tuttleman et al.,
1986).
Replication begins with the synthesis of the pregenomic RNA (pgRNA)
molecule which is larger than its genome (Figure 2.2), and has terminal repeats
since same set of bases is copied twice. The pgRNA would serve as a template
for synthesis of core (C) protein (HBcAg) and preC, viral envelope (S), viral
polymerase (P) and X proteins (Summers and Mason, 1982). The P protein binds
to the epsilon (ε) stem-loop structure at the 5’ end of its own mRNA template
and initiates encapsidation into nucleocapsids that are assembled in the cytosol
6