title: A novel strategy to inhibit the reproduction and translation of hepatitis C virus.
abstract: Hepatitis C virus (HCV), a positive single-stranded RNA virus, is a major cause of liver disease in humans. Herein we report a novel strategy to inhibit the reproduction and translation of HCV using a short RNA, named an Additional RNA, to activate the endonuclease activity of Argonaute 2 (Ago2). In the presence of the Additional RNA, the HCV genome RNA has the requisite 12 nucleotides of base-pairing with microRNA-122. This activates the endonuclease activity of Ago2, resulting in cleavage and release of the HCV genome RNA from Ago2 and microRNA-122. The free HCV genome RNA would be susceptible to intracellular degradation, effectively inhibiting its reproduction and translation. This study presents a new method to inhibit HCV that may hold great potential for HCV treatment in the future.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China.
authors.forename: Aiping
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.forename: Limin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ning
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yafei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Nana
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Lizhou
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Genxi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D020121:5' Untranslated Regions / Q000235:genetics; D060565:Argonaute Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000379:methods; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques / Q000379:methods; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D058727:RNA, Small Untranslated / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D020121:5' Untranslated Regions; C466422:AGO2 protein, human; D060565:Argonaute Proteins; C531907:MIRN122 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs; D058727:RNA, Small Untranslated; D012367:RNA, Viral