Functional possibilities for aminoacylation of viral RNA in transcription and translation.

RNA from at least ten viruses, representing more than four different group, is known to specifically bind in amino acid in a tRNA-like manner. The biological function of aminoacylation of RNA from these viruses and of tRNA association with tumor viruses and bacteriophage, is discussed. Hypothetical schemes are presented for a role for aminoacylation in viral translational and transcriptional mechanisms, and the current evidence relating to these models is presented.