Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kotaro Nakanishi
Summary: The biosynthesis pathways of microRNAs have been well characterized, with small RNAs shorter than 19 nt also binding to AGO proteins and regulating mRNA expression post-transcriptionally.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR BIOSCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marylin Rheault, Sophie E. Cousineau, Danielle R. Fox, Quinn H. Abram, Selena M. Sagan
Summary: In this study, the different roles of miR-122 in the HCV life cycle were isolated and evaluated using mutations, mutant miRNAs, and HCV luciferase reporter RNAs. The results indicate that the riboswitch has minimal contribution, while genome stability and translational promotion have similar contributions in the establishment phase of infection. However, in the maintenance phase, translational promotion becomes the dominant role. Additionally, an alternative conformation of the 5' untranslated region, termed SLIIalt, was found to be important for efficient virion assembly.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Lei Zhang, Linlin Chen, Hongtao Zhang, Hongbin Si, Xianyong Liu, Xun Suo, Dandan Hu
Summary: This study characterized the RNA silencing machinery and miRNA expression profiles in different stages of Eimeria tenella. The miRNA expression was found to regulate gene expression, chromatin binding, and protein phosphorylation. This study provides insights into the regulation of gene expression during the parasite life cycle in apicomplexan parasites.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Elizabeth T. Bartom, Masha Kocherginsky, Bidur Paudel, Aparajitha Vaidyanathan, Ashley Haluck-Kangas, Monal Patel, Kaitlyn L. O'Shea, Andrea E. Murmann, Marcus E. Peter
Summary: microRNAs (miRNAs) are noncoding short RNAs that suppress gene expression by targeting the 3' untranslated region of target mRNAs. We developed SPOROS, a semi-automated pipeline, for predicting and comparing the 6mer seed toxicity of cellular sRNAs.
PLOS COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Arnaud Segers, Joachim Carpentier, Frederic Francis, Rudy Caparros Megido
Summary: This study investigated the potential use of RNA interference (RNAi) as a biotechnological tool for controlling the bruchid pest Callosobruchus maculatus. The researchers identified key proteins and genes involved in the RNAi mechanism and successfully reduced the expression of laccase 1 in C. maculatus using dsRNA injections. While no significant mortalities were observed, this study supports RNAi as a potential method for controlling bruchid pests.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Adriano Biasini, Baroj Abdulkarim, Stefano de Pretis, Jennifer Y. Tan, Rajika Arora, Harry Wischnewski, Rene Dreos, Mattia Pelizzola, Constance Ciaudo, Ana Claudia Marques
Summary: Translation is necessary for miRNA-dependent transcript destabilization, and coding and noncoding transcripts are differently affected by miRNAs.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Harsha Ganesan, Suman K. K. Nandy, Antara Banerjee, Surajit Pathak, Hong Zhang, Xiao-Feng Sun
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the role of miR-122 in colorectal cancer (CRC) and identified a closely related group of genes influencing the prognosis of CRC. These genes can be silenced through RNA interference and may serve as effective therapeutic targets in understanding and treating CRC.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Virology
Mamata Panigrahi, Michael A. A. Palmer, Joyce A. A. Wilson
Summary: The 5 ' untranslated region (UTR) of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) genome regulates virus replication and translation. Binding of miR-122 to the 5 ' UTR regulates viral replication and translation, but its precise mechanism is still unresolved. Our study shows that miR-122 binding stimulates viral translation and that enhancing translation and stabilizing the viral genome can rescue miR-122-independent HCV replication. This suggests that miR-122 plays a primary role in promoting HCV translation and genome stabilization.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hiroaki Tabara, Shohei Mitani, Megumi Mochizuki, Yuji Kohara, Kyosuke Nagata
Summary: Argonaute proteins CSR-1 and CSR-2 in Caenorhabditis elegans, interacting with 22G-RNAs, are found to be involved in the accurate formation of synaptonemal complexes during homolog recognition. CSR-1 associates with CeRep55 minisatellites, which express 22G-RNAs and lncRNAs that colocalize with synaptonemal complexes on paired chromosomes and cohesin regions of unpaired chromosomes. CSR-1 and CSR-2 play crucial roles in homology recognition and condensation of unpaired chromosomes through targeting repeat-derived lncRNAs.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ashraf Y. Elfert, Amel Salem, Amr M. Abdelhamid, Ahmad Salama, Doaa A. Sourour, Olfat Shaker, Mofida Keshk
Summary: The expression profiles of miRNA-122, miR-483, and miR-335 were studied in the serum of HCV-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. miR-122 and miR-483 were upregulated in HCC patients, while miR-335 was downregulated. These miRNAs could serve as potential non-invasive early diagnostic biomarkers for HCC, with miR-483 showing the highest diagnostic accuracy and sensitivity.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR BIOSCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Yu-kun Zheng, Zhong-shi Zhou, Guang-zhong Wang, Ji-yuan Tu, Huan-bo Cheng, Shang-zhi Ma, Chang Ke, Yan Wang, Qi-pan Jian, Yu-hang Shu, Xiao-wei Wu
Summary: This study found that inhibiting miR-122-5p can activate p53 and hinder the progression of the MVA pathway in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This leads to a decrease in cell proliferation and migration, and an increase in apoptosis. miR-122-5p interacts with p53 and is negatively correlated with its expression. Thus, miR-122-5p regulates NSCLC by targeting p53, offering potential molecular targets for targeted drug development.
CELL DEATH & DISEASE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yuka Kaneko, Yuui Naito, Rie Koide, Nicholas F. Parrish, Tomoko Takahashi
Summary: Viral infection can induce diverse cellular immune responses. In the case of Borna disease virus type 1 (BoDV-1), infection can lead to fatal immune-mediated encephalitis, but in vitro infection is usually persistent. This study shows that TRBP, an enhancer of RNA-silencing, positively regulates BoDV RNA levels in human cells. The interaction between TRBP and BoDV RNA plays a role in regulating persistent BoDV infection.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zhenchu Tang, Shenglan Hu, Ziwei Wu, Miao He
Summary: This study evaluated the value of exosome-based microRNA therapy in SCA3 and demonstrated the therapeutic effects of intravenously administrated ATXN3 targeting microRNAs in transgenic SCA3 mouse models. The targeted delivery of miR-25 and miR-181a by modified exosomes successfully reduced mutant ATXN3 expression and improved motor abilities in SCA3 mice without increasing neuroinflammatory response.
MOLECULAR MEDICINE
(2023)
Review
Plant Sciences
Andrea Martin-Merchan, Belen Moro, Antoine Bouet, Nicolas G. Bologna
Summary: ARGONAUTE (AGO) proteins are crucial in small RNA-mediated transcriptional and post-transcriptional silencing pathways. In plants, AGO proteins play essential roles in maintaining genome integrity, regulating developmental processes, and responding to stress and pathogens. This review provides an updated and comprehensive understanding of the evolution, domain architecture, expression pattern, subcellular localization, and biological functions of the 10 AGO proteins in Arabidopsis.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Silvia Zanini, Ena Secic, Tobias Busche, Matteo Galli, Ying Zheng, Joern Kalinowski, Karl-Heinz Kogel
Summary: The study investigated gene regulation mechanisms in the fungal pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae and the model plant Brachypodium distachyon during infection, identifying differentially expressed genes and sRNAs, and highlighting the importance of RNAi genes for fungal virulence.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yalena Amador-Canizares, Annie Bernier, Joyce A. Wilson, Selena M. Sagan
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2018)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yalena Amador-Canizares, Mamata Panigrahi, Adam Huys, Rasika D. Kunden, Halim M. Adams, Michael J. Schinold, Joyce A. Wilson
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2018)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rasika D. Kunden, Juveriya Q. Khan, Sarah Ghezelbash, Joyce A. Wilson
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2020)
Article
Microbiology
Robert M. Cox, Julien Sourimant, Mart Toots, Jeong-Joong Yoon, Satoshi Ikegame, Mugunthan Govindarajan, Ruth E. Watkinson, Patricia Thibault, Negar Makhsous, Michelle J. Lin, Jose R. Marengo, Zachary Sticher, Alexander A. Kolykhalov, Michael G. Natchus, Alexander L. Greninger, Benhur Lee, Richard K. Plemper
NATURE MICROBIOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rasika D. Kunden, Sarah Ghezelbash, Juveriya Q. Khan, Joyce A. Wilson
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2020)
Article
Microbiology
Emmanuelle Genoyer, Katarzyna Kulej, Chuan Tien Hung, Patricia A. Thibault, Kristopher Azarm, Toru Takimoto, Benjamin A. Garcia, Benhur Lee, Seema Lakdawala, Matthew D. Weitzman, Carolina B. Lopez
Article
Microbiology
Satoshi Ikegame, Shannon M. Beaty, Christian Stevens, Sohui T. Won, Arnold Park, David Sachs, Patrick Hong, Benhur Lee, Patricia A. Thibault
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Joseph-Patrick W. E. Clarke, Patricia A. Thibault, Hannah E. Salapa, David E. Kim, Catherine Hutchinson, Michael C. Levin
Summary: The study demonstrates that mutations in the A1 gene result in cytoplasmic mislocalization of A1 protein, altered cluster dynamics, and enhanced stress granule formation. These findings support the hypothesis that dysfunction of A1 may exacerbate neurodegeneration in multiple sclerosis.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Biology
Patricia A. Thibault, Aravindhan Ganesan, Subha Kalyaanamoorthy, Joseph-Patrick W. E. Clarke, Hannah E. Salapa, Michael C. Levin
Summary: The hnRNP A/B family of proteins, consisting of A1, A2/B1, A3, and A0, play a significant role in regulating cellular RNAs. While A1 and A2/B1 are extensively studied, the functions of A0 and A3 proteins are lesser known. Further research is needed on the regulation, distribution, and different isoforms of these proteins to better understand their role in cell function and disease.
Article
Microbiology
David A. Ostrov, Andrew P. Bluhm, Danmeng Li, Juveriya Qamar Khan, Megha Rohamare, Karthic Rajamanickam, Kalpana K. Bhanumathy, Jocelyne Lew, Darryl Falzarano, Franco J. Vizeacoumar, Joyce A. Wilson, Marco Mottinelli, Siva Rama Raju Kanumuri, Abhisheak Sharma, Christopher R. McCurdy, Michael H. Norris
Summary: The study identified sigma receptor ligands with agonism of the sigma-1 receptor, ligation of the sigma-2 receptor, and a combination of the two pathways as effective in inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 infection, offering a potential therapeutic avenue for COVID-19 prevention and treatment in primate and human cells.
Review
Microbiology
Mamata Panigrahi, Michael A. Palmer, Joyce A. Wilson
Summary: This review explores the unique relationship between liver-specific microRNA miR-122 and Hepatitis C virus (HCV), as well as the role of miR-122 in the virus life cycle, viral tropism, and pathogenesis. The review also discusses the impact of anti-miR-122 therapy on viral replication and how viruses manipulate host factors during the initial stage of infection to establish a successful infection.
Article
Neurosciences
Ali Jahanbazi Jahan-Abad, Hannah E. Salapa, Cole D. Libner, Patricia A. Thibault, Michael C. Levin
Summary: This study reveals the dysfunction of RNA binding protein hnRNP A1 in oligodendrocytes (OLs) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) as well as in an animal model of MS. The dysfunction of hnRNP A1 is associated with alterations in RNA metabolism, cell morphology, and programmed cell death pathways in OLs, leading to detrimental effects on OL functioning and survival. These findings suggest a potential mechanism of OL damage and death in MS.
Article
Virology
Mamata Panigrahi, Michael A. A. Palmer, Joyce A. A. Wilson
Summary: The 5 ' untranslated region (UTR) of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) genome regulates virus replication and translation. Binding of miR-122 to the 5 ' UTR regulates viral replication and translation, but its precise mechanism is still unresolved. Our study shows that miR-122 binding stimulates viral translation and that enhancing translation and stabilizing the viral genome can rescue miR-122-independent HCV replication. This suggests that miR-122 plays a primary role in promoting HCV translation and genome stabilization.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Virology
Juveriya Qamar Khan, Megha Rohamare, Karthic Rajamanickam, Kalpana K. K. Bhanumathy, Jocelyne Lew, Anil Kumar, Darryl Falzarano, Franco J. J. Vizeacoumar, Joyce A. A. Wilson
Summary: The study developed novel tools for screening antivirals, identifying virus-host dependencies, and characterizing viral variants. The researchers used reverse genetics to rescue SARS-CoV-2 wild type and reporter virus, and found comparable replication kinetics and characteristics between these viruses and a clinical isolate. They also established human lung cell lines that support SARS-CoV-2 infection and have high virus-induced cytopathology, making them ideal for live-dead selection assays.
Article
Virology
Benjamin E. Nilsson-Payant, Daniel Blanco-Melo, Skyler Uhl, Beatriz Escudero-Perez, Silke Olschewski, Patricia Thibault, Maryline Panis, Maria Rosenthal, Cesar Munoz-Fontela, Benhur Lee, Benjamin R. tenOever
Summary: Negative-sense RNA viruses rely on nucleoprotein NP to regulate transcription and replication of the viral genome, and limiting NP levels results in decreased genome replication and enhanced host antiviral response. Insufficient NP prevents NSVs from processing full-length genomes, leading to the formation of aberrant replication products that trigger immune recognition and a strong host antiviral response. The consequences of limiting NP levels are universal among NSVs, including Ebola virus, Lassa virus, and measles virus.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Virology
Naiqing Xu, Xinen Tang, Xin Wang, Miao Cai, Xiaowen Liu, Xiaolong Lu, Shunlin Hu, Min Gu, Jiao Hu, Ruyi Gao, Kaituo Liu, Yu Chen, Xiufan Liu, Xiaoquan Wang
Summary: This study found that the H9N2 subtype avian influenza virus has a high airborne transmissibility, while the H7N9 virus does not. The Hemagglutinin protein of the H9N2 virus was found to play a key role in replication, stability, and airborne transmission.
Article
Virology
Samar S. Ewies, Sabry M. Tamam, Ahmed S. Abdel-Moneim, Sherin R. Rouby
Summary: Contagious ecthyma (CE) is a highly contagious viral disease of sheep and goats worldwide. The study provided a clinical description of CE and screened for genetic variation in the B2L gene. Infected sheep exhibited anorexia and oral lesions, while inoculated chicken embryos showed pock lesions. The B2L gene was successfully amplified and found to be highly conserved.
Article
Virology
Yigal Farnoushi, Dan Heller, Avishai Lublin
Summary: In recent years, new variants of avian reovirus (ARV) have caused a variety of symptoms in chickens worldwide, including viral arthritis/tenosynovitis. This study analyzed emerging ARV variants in Israel and found significant genetic diversity. Most ARV isolates in Israel belonged to genotypic cluster 5 (GC5). The study suggests that Israel has not experienced the emergence of new ARV variants since the introduction of the live vaccine (ISR-7585), but ongoing monitoring is needed due to the continuous emergence of ARV variants.
Article
Virology
Shigeru Tajima, Michiyo Kataoka, Yuki Takamatsu, Hideki Ebihara, Chang-Kweng Lim
Summary: Yokose virus (YOKV), a bat-associated flavivirus, was found to replicate at a slower rate in mosquito cells compared to other mosquito-borne flaviviruses. Specific nucleotide mutations in the virus were identified to enhance its proliferation ability in mosquito cells.
Article
Virology
Alejandra Borjabad, Baojun Dong, Wei Chao, David J. Volsky, Mary Jane Potash
Summary: This study investigated HIV brain disease using a mouse model, and found that poly I:C can reverse associated cognitive impairment and reduce virus burden. The results also revealed transcriptional changes related to neuronal function and innate immune responses.
Article
Virology
Ching-Hung Lin, Feng-Cheng Hsieh, Meilin Wang, Chieh Hsu, Hsuan-Wei Hsu, Chun-Chun Yang, Cheng-Yao Yang, Hung-Yi Wu
Summary: This study demonstrates that the synthesis of coronavirus subgenomic mRNA is not solely determined by the sequence homology between the leader TRS and TRS-B, but also by the disassociation of the coronavirus polymerase from the viral genome. This finding provides a new insight into the transcription mechanism of coronaviruses.
Article
Virology
Nicholas S. Kron, Benjamin W. Neuman, Sathish Kumar, Patricia L. Blackwelder, Dayana Vidal, Delphina Z. Walker-Phelan, Patrick D. I. Gibbs, Lynne A. Fieber, Michael C. Schmale
Summary: Two recent studies documented the genome of a novel virus in marine animals, finding that the virus is widespread in apparently healthy animals but not highly expressed in neurons. The studies also identified viral replication factories and high levels of defective genomes in chronically infected animals.
Article
Virology
Andrew M. Ramey, Laura C. Scott, Christina A. Ahlstrom, Evan J. Buck, Alison R. Williams, Mia Kim Torchetti, David E. Stallknecht, Rebecca L. Poulson
Summary: We successfully detected and characterized highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses in hunter-harvested wild waterfowl samples from western Alaska. Genomic analysis revealed three independent viral introductions into Alaska. Our findings demonstrate the utility and potential limitations of using molecular processing approaches directly on original swab samples for viral research and monitoring.
Article
Virology
Ting Gong, Dongdong Wu, Yongzhi Feng, Xing Liu, Qi Gao, Xiaoyu Zheng, Zebu Song, Heng Wang, Guihong Zhang, Lang Gong
Summary: This study discovered that quercetin can inhibit PEDV replication both in vivo and in vitro, and alleviate the clinical symptoms and intestinal injury caused by the virus. This provides a new direction for the development of PED antiviral drugs.
Article
Virology
Min Zhu, Hao Zeng, Jianqiao He, Yaohui Zhu, Pingping Wang, Jianing Guo, Jinfan Guo, Huabo Zhou, Yifeng Qin, Kang Ouyang, Zuzhang Wei, Weijian Huang, Ying Chen
Summary: The reassortment between avian H9N2 and Eurasian avian-like (EA) H1N1 viruses may have potentially changed from avian-to-mammals adaptation. This study found that the introduction of EA H1N1 internal genes into H9N2 virus restored the replication capability and resulted in extreme virulence in some cases. This raises new concerns for public health due to the possible coexistence of H9N2 and EA H1N1 viruses in dogs.
