A role for H/ACA and C/D small nucleolar RNAs in viral replication

Mol Biotechnol. 2014 May;56(5):429-37. doi: 10.1007/s12033-013-9730-0.

Abstract

We have employed gene-trap insertional mutagenesis to identify candidate genes whose disruption confer phenotypic resistance to lytic infection, in independent studies using 12 distinct viruses and several different cell lines. Analysis of >2,000 virus-resistant clones revealed >1,000 candidate host genes, approximately 20 % of which were disrupted in clones surviving separate infections with 2-6 viruses. Interestingly, there were 83 instances in which the insertional mutagenesis vector disrupted transcripts encoding H/ACA-class and C/D-class small nucleolar RNAs (SNORAs and SNORDs, respectively). Of these, 79 SNORAs and SNORDs reside within introns of 29 genes (predominantly protein-coding), while 4 appear to be independent transcription units. siRNA studies targeting candidate SNORA/Ds provided independent confirmation of their roles in infection when tested against cowpox virus, Dengue Fever virus, influenza A virus, human rhinovirus 16, herpes simplex virus 2, or respiratory syncytial virus. Significantly, eight of the nine SNORA/Ds targeted with siRNAs enhanced cellular resistance to multiple viruses suggesting widespread involvement of SNORA/Ds in virus-host interactions and/or virus-induced cell death.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line
  • Humans
  • Mutagenesis, Insertional
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • RNA, Small Nucleolar / genetics
  • RNA, Small Nucleolar / physiology*
  • Virus Replication / genetics
  • Virus Replication / physiology*

Substances

  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • RNA, Small Nucleolar