title: The influenza A virus NS1 protein binds small interfering RNAs and suppresses RNA silencing in plants.
abstract: RNA silencing comprises a set of sequence-specific RNA degradation pathways that occur in a wide range of eukaryotes, including animals, fungi and plants. A hallmark of RNA silencing is the presence of small interfering RNA molecules (siRNAs). The siRNAs are generated by cleavage of larger double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) and provide the sequence specificity for degradation of cognate RNA molecules. In plants, RNA silencing plays a key role in developmental processes and in control of virus replication. It has been shown that many plant viruses encode proteins, denoted RNA silencing suppressors, that interfere with this antiviral response. Although RNA silencing has been shown to occur in vertebrates, no relationship with inhibition of virus replication has been demonstrated to date. Here we show that the NS1 protein of human influenza A virus has an RNA silencing suppression activity in plants, similar to established RNA silencing suppressor proteins of plant viruses. In addition, NS1 was shown to be capable of binding siRNAs. The data presented here fit with a potential role for NS1 in counteracting innate antiviral responses in vertebrates by sequestering siRNAs.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University, Binnenhaven 11, 6709 PD Wageningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Etienne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bucher
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University, Binnenhaven 11, 6709 PD Wageningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hemmes
authors.affiliation: Viruvation BV, Wassenaarseweg 72, 2333 AL Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: de Haan
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University, Binnenhaven 11, 6709 PD Wageningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Rob
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Goldbach
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University, Binnenhaven 11, 6709 PD Wageningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prins
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites / Q000235:genetics; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology*; D010942:Plant Viruses / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology; D010944:Plants / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D017863:Potexvirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology; D034622:RNA Interference; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; C085820:INS1 protein, influenza virus; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins