Virus-encoded microRNAs in herpesvirus biology
MicroRNAs regulate fundamental cellular processes in all metazoans The first discovered microRNA (miRNA), lin-4 of Caenorhabditis elegans, was found because of its role in a developmental timing defect. To date, more than 900 human miRNAs have been identified. MicroRNAs have been isolated from every metazoan and plant species examined thus far, and around 30% of all metazoan miRNAs are conserved between species. A hallmark of herpesvirus biology is the ability of the viruses to establish and maintain latent infections wherein the virus genome circularizes and persists as an episome, and where only very limited virus gene expression takes place. Herpesviruses establish infections that persist for the life of the host; an intricate balance therefore exists between host immune surveillance and virus immune evasion.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short RNAs of about 22 nucleotides in length that post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression by binding to 3′ untranslated regions of mRNAs, thereby inducing translational silencing. Recently, more than 140 miRNAs have been identified in the genomes of herpesviruses. Deciphering their role in viral biology requires the identification of target genes, a challenging task because miRNAs require only limited complementarity. The subject of this review will be the herpesvirus miRNAs and their respective target genes that have been determined experimentally to date. These miRNAs regulate fundamental cellular processes including immunity, angiogenesis, apoptosis, and key steps in the herpesvirus life cycle, latency and the switch from latent to lytic replication.
Role of virus-encoded microRNAs in herpesvirus biology. Trends Microbiol. Oct 12 2009
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- Cellular Genes Targeted by KSHV MicroRNAs
- RNAi and Cold Sores
Tags: Biology, Herpes, Medicine, Microbiology, miRNA, Science, Virology, virus
