Term Name:	cap snatching
Synonyms:	cap snatching involved in viral mRNA transcription
Definition:	A transcription initiation process during which a nucleotide sequence between 10 and 20 nucleotides in size is cleaved from the 5' end of host mRNAs by a viral RNA-dependent polymerase. The capped leader sequence obtained is subsequently used to prime transcription on the viral genome, which ultimately leads to the synthesis of capped, translatable viral mRNAs.
Ontology:	GO: Biological Process [GO:0075526]    QuickGO    AmiGO