Zhang, JunpingYu, XiangpingGuo, PingFirrman, JenniPouchnik, DerekDiao, YongSamulski, Richard JudeXiao, Weidong2022-12-092022-12-092021-06-21Zhang J, Yu X, Guo P, et al. Satellite Subgenomic Particles Are Key Regulators of Adeno-Associated Virus Life Cycle. Viruses. 2021;13(6):1185. Published 2021 Jun 21. doi:10.3390/v13061185https://hdl.handle.net/1805/30707Historically, adeno-associated virus (AAV)-defective interfering particles (DI) were known as abnormal virions arising from natural replication and encapsidation errors. Through single virion genome analysis, we revealed that a major category of DI particles contains a double-stranded DNA genome in a "snapback" configuration. The 5'- snapback genomes (SBGs) include the P5 promoters and partial rep gene sequences. The 3'-SBGs contains the capsid region. The molecular configuration of 5'-SBGs theoretically may allow double-stranded RNA transcription in their dimer configuration. Our studies demonstrated that 5-SBG regulated AAV rep expression and improved AAV packaging. In contrast, 3'-SBGs at its dimer configuration increased levels of cap protein. The generation and accumulation of 5'-SBGs and 3'-SBGs appears to be coordinated to balance the viral gene expression level. Therefore, the functions of 5'-SBGs and 3'-SBGs may help maximize the yield of AAV progenies. We postulate that AAV virus population behaved as a colony and utilizes its subgenomic particles to overcome the size limit of a viral genome and encodes additional essential functions.en-USAttribution 4.0 InternationalAdeno-associated virusLife cycleSubgenomic particlesSnapback configurationArticle