Question

All RNA viruses can directly be translated into a protein.

True
False

Answer 1

Protein synthesis in the host cell is carried out by the cell organelle, ribosome. It binds to a positve strand mRNA, which contains the code for a protein. Single stranded RNA viruses can either contain positive strand or negative strand RNA. Positive strand RNA (sense RNA) can directly act as viral mRNA encoding the viral proteins. Negative strand RNA (antisense RNA) is the strand complementary to the positive strand RNA.

So, viruses containing positive strand RNA (for example, Hepatitis C virus) can directly be used for protein synthesis by the host cell ribosomes. However, viruses containing negative strand RNA (for example, influenza virus) require specific viral RNA polymerase. This enzyme will replicate viral RNA, producing positive strand RNA which can be then used for synthesis of viral proteins.

Hence, the statement, 'All RNA viruses can directly be translated into a protein' is False.