Subgenomic flaviviral RNAs: what do we know after the first decade of research

The common feature of flaviviral infection is the accumulation of abundant virus-derived noncoding RNA, named flaviviral subgenomic RNA (sfRNA) in infected cells. This RNA represents a product of incomplete degradation of viral genomic RNA by the cellular 5′-3′ exoribonuclease XRN1 that stalls at the conserved highly structured elements in the 3′ untranslated region (UTR). This mechanism of sfRNA generation was discovered a decade ago and since then sfRNA has been a focus of intense research. The ability of flaviviruses to produce sfRNA was shown to be evolutionary conserved in all members of Flavivirus genus. Mutations in the 3′UTR that affect production of sfRNAs and their interactions with host factors showed that sfRNAs are responsible for viral pathogenicity, host adaptation, and emergence of new pathogenic strains. RNA structural elements required for XRN1 stalling have been elucidated and the role of sfRNAs in inhibiting host antiviral responses in arthropod and vertebrate hosts has been demonstrated. Some molecular mechanisms determining these properties of sfRNA have been recently characterized, while other aspects of sfRNA functions remain an open avenue for future research. In this review we summarise the current state of knowledge on the mechanisms of generation and functional roles of sfRNAs in the life cycle of flaviviruses and highlight the gaps in our knowledge to be addressed in the future

Crosstalk between transcription factors in regulation of the human glutathione S-transferase P1 gene expression in Me45 melanoma cells

Aim. The human GSTP1 is a major enzyme of phase II detoxification in the most cell types. Aberrant expression of GSTP1 is associated with carcinogenesis and development of multidrug resistance. The GSTP1 gene expression is regulated at multiple levels including transcriptional, post-transcriptional and post-translational. We concentrated our attention on the transcriptional level of regulation. Methods. Transient transfection of Me45 melanoma cells with constructs containing the luciferase gene under the control of complete and truncated GSTP1 promoter was utilized to identify a role of different promoter regions in regulation of the gene transcription in Me45 cells. To identify the transcription factors, interacting with the GSTP1 promoter sites, the competitive EMSA and super shift assay were applied. Results. GSTP1 transcription in Me45 cells is positively regulated by binding NF-kB to the cognate site and ERb in complex with unknown protein to the ARE site; the complex of ERb with c-Fos negatively regulates the gene expression via CRE site. The interaction of c-Fos/ERb with GSTP1 CRE site and indirect interaction of ERb with GSTP1 ARE were identified. Conclusions. The positive regulation of the human GSTP1 gene in Me45 melanoma cells is exerted via NF-kB and ARE sites and the negative one via CRE site of the promoter. ERb is indirectly involved in the regulation of GSTP1 transcription. It is bound via c-Fos with CRE site and via unknown protein with ARE site

Injection site vaccinology of a recombinant vaccinia-based vector reveals diverse innate immune signatures

Poxvirus systems have been extensively used as vaccine vectors. Herein a RNA-Seq analysis of intramuscular injection sites provided detailed insights into host innate immune responses, as well as expression of vector and recombinant immunogen genes, after vaccination with a new multiplication defective, vaccinia-based vector, Sementis Copenhagen Vector. Chikungunya and Zika virus immunogen mRNA and protein expression was associated with necrosing skeletal muscle cells surrounded by mixed cellular infiltrates. The multiple adjuvant signatures at 12 hours post-vaccination were dominated by TLR3, 4 and 9, STING, MAVS, PKR and the inflammasome. Th1 cytokine signatures were dominated by IFNγ, TNF and IL1β, and chemokine signatures by CCL5 and CXCL12. Multiple signatures associated with dendritic cell stimulation were evident. By day seven, vaccine transcripts were absent, and cell death, neutrophil, macrophage and inflammation annotations had abated. No compelling arthritis signatures were identified. Such injection site vaccinology approaches should inform refinements in poxvirus-based vector design.Jessamine E. Hazlewood, Troy Dumenil, Thuy T. Le, Andrii Slonchak, Stephen H. Kazakoff, Ann-Marie Patch ... et al

Small RNA Profiling in Dengue Virus 2-Infected Aedes Mosquito Cells Reveals Viral piRNAs and Novel Host miRNAs

Contains fulltext : 171518.PDF (publisher's version ) (Open Access)In Aedes mosquitoes, infections with arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) trigger or modulate the expression of various classes of viral and host-derived small RNAs, including small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), PIWI interacting RNAs (piRNAs), and microRNAs (miRNAs). Viral siRNAs are at the core of the antiviral RNA interference machinery, one of the key pathways that limit virus replication in invertebrates. Besides siRNAs, Aedes mosquitoes and cells derived from these insects produce arbovirus-derived piRNAs, the best studied examples being viruses from the Togaviridae or Bunyaviridae families. Host miRNAs modulate the expression of a large number of genes and their levels may change in response to viral infections. In addition, some viruses, mostly with a DNA genome, express their own miRNAs to regulate host and viral gene expression. Here, we perform a comprehensive analysis of both viral and host-derived small RNAs in Aedes aegypti Aag2 cells infected with dengue virus 2 (DENV), a member of the Flaviviridae family. Aag2 cells are competent in producing all three types of small RNAs and provide a powerful tool to explore the crosstalk between arboviral infection and the distinct RNA silencing pathways. Interestingly, besides the well-characterized DENV-derived siRNAs, a specific population of viral piRNAs was identified in infected Aag2 cells. Knockdown of Piwi5, Ago3 and, to a lesser extent, Piwi6 results in reduction of vpiRNA levels, providing the first genetic evidence that Aedes PIWI proteins produce DENV-derived small RNAs. In contrast, we do not find convincing evidence for the production of virus-derived miRNAs. Neither do we find that host miRNA expression is strongly changed upon DENV2 infection. Finally, our deep-sequencing analyses detect 30 novel Aedes miRNAs, complementing the repertoire of regulatory small RNAs in this important vector species

Structure and functions of glutathione S-transferase Pl-1

Glutathione S-transferase Pl-1 (GSTP1-1) is a multifunctional enzyme which protects the cell from the influence of genotoxic factors and apop-tosis. Contemporary knowledge about the GSTP1 molecule structure and the enzyme functions are summarized in this review. Also PI isoform is compared to other glutathione S-transferases and structure-function relationships are emphasized. Novel functions of GSTP1 in cell signaling modulation, NO storage and metabolism are highlighted in this paper