Eukaryotic host transcription shutoff by virus (kw:KW-1191)
Host RNA polymerase II (RNA pol-II) is the major enzyme responsible for transcription of mRNA from a DNA template strand.

Some viruses interfere with host RNA pol-II function. They may either mediate its ubiquitination and subsequent proteasomal degradation, or inhibit RNA pol-II phosphorylation thereby lowering its efficiency. They can as well interfere with initiation factors. Inhibiting host transcription eventually leads to shutoff of host proteins expression and gives viruses transcripts a competitive edge for access to the cellular translation machinery. Preventing the expression of host proteins is also a strategy to counteract the antiviral response.
Viruses inhibiting transcription:
Family | Virus | Viral protein | Transcription inhibition strategy | references |
Herpesviridae | HHV-1 | ICP22 | Counteracts CTD Ser-2 phosphorylation |
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Bunyaviridae | Bunyamwera virus | NSs | Counteracts CTD Ser-2 phosphorylation |
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Orthomyxoviridae | Influenza virus | Polymerase PB1, PB2, PA | RNA pol-II ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation |
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Papillomaviridae, alphapapillomavirus | HPV16 | E7 | Inhibition of TBP |
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Picornaviridae | Poliovirus | 3C | Cleavage of TBP |
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Bunyaviridae, Phlebovirus | Rift valley fever virus | NSs | Downregulates TFIIH subunit p62 |
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Herpesviridae, Varicellovirus | Varicella virus | IE63 | Disruption of the transcriptional pre-initiation complex |
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Matching UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot entries
(all links/actions below point to uniprot.org website)348 entries grouped by strain
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Goose/Guangdong/1/1996 H5N1 genotype Gs/Gd) reference strain
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Puerto Rico/8/1934 H1N1) reference strain
3 entries
Influenza B virus (strain B/Lee/1940) reference strain
3 entries
Influenza C virus (strain C/Ann Arbor/1/1950) reference strain
1 entry
Acidianus two-tailed virus (ATV) reference strain
1 entry
Bunyamwera virus (BUNV) reference strain
1 entry
Bunyavirus La Crosse reference strain
1 entry
Bunyavirus La Crosse (isolate Human/United States/L78/1978) reference strain
1 entry
Chikungunya virus (strain S27-African prototype) (CHIKV) reference strain
1 entry
Human adenovirus C serotype 2 (HAdV-2) (Human adenovirus 2) reference strain
1 entry
Human adenovirus C serotype 5 (HAdV-5) (Human adenovirus 5) reference strain
1 entry
Human herpesvirus 1 (strain 17) (HHV-1) (Human herpes simplex virus 1) reference strain
1 entry
Rift valley fever virus (strain ZH-548 M12) (RVFV) reference strain
1 entry
Semliki forest virus (SFV) reference strain
1 entry
Sindbis virus (SINV) reference strain
1 entry
Varicella-zoster virus (strain Dumas) (HHV-3) (Human herpesvirus 3) reference strain
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Ann Arbor/6/1960 H2N2)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Beijing/39/1975 H3N2)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Brazil/11/1978 H1N1)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Brevig Mission/1/1918 H1N1) (Influenza A virus (strain A/South Carolina/1/1918 H1N1))
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Chicken/Hong Kong/YU22/2002 H5N1 genotype Z)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Chicken/Pennsylvania/1/1983 H5N2)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Chicken/Scotland/1959 H5N1)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Chicken/Victoria/1/1985 H7N7)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Chile/1/1983 H1N1)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/China:Nanchang/11/1996 H1N1)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Duck/Czechoslovakia/1956 H4N6)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Duck/England/1/1956 H11N6)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Duck/Germany/1949 H10N7)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Duck/Hokkaido/8/1980 H3N8)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Duck/Hong Kong/2986.1/2000 H5N1 genotype C)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/England/878/1969 H3N2)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Equine/London/1416/1973 H7N7)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Fort Monmouth/1/1947 H1N1)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Goose/Guangxi/345/2005 H5N1 genotype G)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Grey teal/Australia/2/1979 H4N4)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Gull/Maryland/704/1977 H13N6)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Gull/Minnesota/945/1980 H13N6)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Henry/1936 H1N1)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Hickox/1940 H1N1)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Hong Kong/1/1968 H3N2)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Hong Kong/156/1997 H5N1 genotype Gs/Gd)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Hong Kong/5/1983 H3N2)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/India/6263/1980 H1N1)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Japan/305/1957 H2N2)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Kitakyushu/159/1993 H3N2)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Korea/426/1968 H2N2)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Leningrad/134/17/1957 H2N2)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Leningrad/134/1957 H2N2)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Leningrad/134/47/1957 H2N2)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Malaysia:Malaya/302/1954 H1N1)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Mallard/New York/6750/1978 H2N2)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Memphis/1/1971 H3N2)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Memphis/101/1972 H3N2)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Memphis/102/1972 H3N2)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Memphis/110/1976 H3N2)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Memphis/18/1978 H3N2)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Memphis/2/1978 H3N2)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Memphis/4/1980 H3N2)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/New Zealand:South Canterbury/35/2000 H1N1)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Northern Territory/60/1968 H3N2) (Influenza A virus (strain NT60)) (Influenza A virus (strain A/NT/60/1968 H3N2))
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Port Chalmers/1/1973 H3N2)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Qu/7/1970 H3N2)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Russia:St.Petersburg/8/2006 H1N1)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Seal/Massachusetts/1/1980 H7N7)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Singapore/1/1957 H2N2)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Swine/Colorado/1/1977 H3N2)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Swine/Wisconsin/1/1961 H1N1)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Swine/Wisconsin/1/1967 H1N1)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Tokyo/3/1967 H2N2)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Turkey/Ireland/1378/1983 H5N8)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Turkey/Minnesota/833/1980 H4N2)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Turkey/Ontario/6118/1968 H8N4)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Turkey/Wisconsin/1/1966 H9N2)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/USA:Albany/12/1951 H1N1)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/USA:Huston/AA/1945 H1N1)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/USA:Iowa/1943 H1N1)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/USA:Memphis/10/1996 H1N1)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/USA:Phila/1935 H1N1)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/USA:Texas/UR06-0195/2007 H1N1)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/USSR/90/1977 H1N1)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Udorn/307/1972 H3N2)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Victoria/3/1975 H3N2)
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Wilson-Smith/1933 H1N1) (Influenza A virus (strain A/WS/1933 H1N1))
3 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/X-31 H3N2)
3 entries
Influenza B virus (strain B/Ann Arbor/1/1966 [cold-adapted])
3 entries
Influenza B virus (strain B/Ann Arbor/1/1966 [wild-type])
3 entries
Influenza B virus (strain B/Panama/45/1990)
3 entries
Influenza C virus (strain C/JJ/1950)
3 entries
Influenza C virus (strain C/Johannesburg/1/1966)
2 entries
Eastern equine encephalitis virus (strain Florida 91-469) (EEEV) (Eastern equine encephalomyelitis virus)
2 entries
Eastern equine encephalitis virus (strain PE-0.0155) (EEEV) (Eastern equine encephalomyelitis virus)
2 entries
Eastern equine encephalitis virus (strain PE-3.0815) (EEEV) (Eastern equine encephalomyelitis virus)
2 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Chicken/Brescia/1902 H7N7)
2 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Chicken/Hong Kong/220/1997 H5N1 genotype Gs/Gd)
2 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Chicken/Hong Kong/31.2/2002 H5N1 genotype X1)
2 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Chicken/Hong Kong/715.5/2001 H5N1 genotype E)
2 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Chicken/Hong Kong/96.1/2002 H5N1 genotype Y)
2 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Chicken/Shantou/4231/2003 H5N1 genotype V)
2 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Equine/Tennessee/5/1986 H3N8)
2 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Fowl plague virus/Rostock/8/1934 H7N1)
2 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Hong Kong/212/2003 H5N1 genotype Z+)
2 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Kiev/59/1979 H1N1)
2 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Memphis/8/1988 H3N2)
2 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Ruddy Turnstone/New Jersey/47/1985 H4N6)
2 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Silky Chicken/Hong Kong/SF189/2001 H5N1 genotype A)
2 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Silky Chicken/Hong Kong/YU100/2002 H5N1 genotype X3)
2 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Swine/Hong Kong/126/1982 H3N2)
2 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Swine/Iowa/15/1930 H1N1)
2 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Swine/Tennessee/26/1977 H1N1)
2 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Teal/China/2978.1/2002 H5N1 genotype W)
2 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Turkey/Minnesota/501/1978 H6N8)
2 entries
Influenza A virus (strain A/Turkey/Ontario/7732/1966 H5N9)
2 entries
Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (strain 3880) (VEEV)
2 entries
Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (strain Mena II) (VEEV)
2 entries
Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (strain P676) (VEEV)
2 entries
Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (strain Trinidad donkey) (VEEV)
2 entries
Western equine encephalitis virus (WEEV)
1 entry
Alphavirus salmon subtype 1 (SAV1) (Salmon pancreas disease virus subtype 1)
1 entry
Alphavirus salmon subtype 2 (SAV2) (Sleeping disease virus)
1 entry
Aura virus (AURAV)
1 entry
Barmah forest virus (BFV)
1 entry
Bunyavirus germiston
1 entry
Bunyavirus snowshoe hare
1 entry
Chikungunya virus (strain 37997) (CHIKV)
1 entry
Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) (Eastern equine encephalomyelitis virus)
1 entry
Eastern equine encephalitis virus (strain va33[ten broeck]) (EEEV) (Eastern equine encephalomyelitis virus)
1 entry
Getah virus (GETV)
1 entry
Influenza A virus (strain A/Beijing/11/1956 H1N1)
1 entry
Influenza A virus (strain A/Budgerigar/Hokkaido/1/1977 H4N6)
1 entry
Influenza A virus (strain A/Chicken/Hong Kong/37.4/2002 H5N1 genotype X2)
1 entry
Influenza A virus (strain A/Chicken/Pennsylvania/1370/1983 H5N2)
1 entry
Influenza A virus (strain A/Chicken/Weybridge H7N7) (Influenza A virus (strain A/FPV/Weybridge H7N7))
1 entry
Influenza A virus (strain A/Dunedin/4/1973 H3N2)
1 entry
Influenza A virus (strain A/Equine/Kentucky/2/1986 H3N8)
1 entry
Influenza A virus (strain A/Equine/Prague/1/1956 H7N7)
1 entry
Influenza A virus (strain A/Guinea fowl/Hong Kong/38/2002 H5N1 genotype X0)
1 entry
Influenza A virus (strain A/Gull/Astrakhan/227/1984 H13N6)
1 entry
Influenza A virus (strain A/Pintail/Alberta/119/1979 H4N6)
1 entry
Influenza A virus (strain A/Seal/Massachusetts/133/1982 H4N5)
1 entry
Influenza A virus (strain A/Swine/Hong Kong/81/1978 H3N2)
1 entry
Influenza A virus (strain A/Swine/Ontario/2/1981 H1N1)
1 entry
Influenza A virus (strain A/Swine/Tennessee/24/1977 H1N1)
1 entry
Influenza A virus (strain A/Vietnam/1203/2004 H5N1)
1 entry
Influenza A virus (strain A/Wisconsin/3523/1988 H1N1)
1 entry
Influenza A virus (strain swl A/California/04/2009 H1N1)
1 entry
Influenza B virus (strain B/Singapore/222/1979)
1 entry
Influenza C virus (strain C/Berlin/1/1985)
1 entry
Mayaro virus (strain Brazil) (MAYV)
1 entry
O'nyong-nyong virus (strain Gulu) (ONNV)
1 entry
O'nyong-nyong virus (strain Igbo Ora) (ONNV) (Igbo Ora virus)
1 entry
O'nyong-nyong virus (strain SG650) (ONNV)
1 entry
Poliovirus type 1 (strain Sabin)
1 entry
Poliovirus type 2 (strain Lansing)
1 entry
Poliovirus type 2 (strain W-2)
1 entry
Poliovirus type 3 (strain 23127)
1 entry
Poliovirus type 3 (strains P3/Leon/37 and P3/Leon 12A[1]B)
1 entry
Ross river virus (strain NB5092) (RRV)
1 entry
Sagiyama virus (SAGV)
1 entry
Sindbis virus subtype Ockelbo (strain Edsbyn 82-5) (OCKV) (Ockelbo virus)
1 entry
Varicella-zoster virus (strain Oka vaccine) (HHV-3) (Human herpesvirus 3)
1 entry
Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV)
1 entry
Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (strain Everglades Fe3-7c) (VEEV)
1 entry