Down-regulation of human cytomegalovirus UL138, a novel latency-associated determinant, by hcmv-miR-UL36.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNAs, 19-23 nucleotides in length, which regulate a variety of cellular processes. Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) encodes only one intronic miRNA: human cytomegalovirus microRNA UL36 (hcmv-miR-UL36). In this study, we found that over-expression of hcmv-miR-UL36 resulted in a more than threefold increase in HCMV DNA synthesis at 24 h post infection. Fifteen putative targets of hcmv-miR-UL36 were identified using hybrid PCR, one being the HCMV UL138 gene that has previously been identified as a novel latency-associated determinant of HCMV infection. Down-regulation of UL138 expression by hcmv-miR-UL36 was validated using luciferase reporter assays and Western blot analysis in HEK293 cells. In the presence of hcmv-miR-UL36, we observed a 74.6 percent decrease in luciferase activity and a 46.2 percent decrease in HCMV UL138 protein expression. Our results indicate that hcmv-miR-UL36 may be a viral miRNA contributing to HCMV replication.
Virus Laboratory, The Affiliated Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, 110004 Shenyang, Liaoning, P.R. China.
Yujing
Y
Huang
Ying
Y
Qi
Yanping
Y
Ma
Rong
R
He
Yaohua
Y
Ji
Zhengrong
Z
Sun
Qiang
Q
Ruan
D002460:Cell Line; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004261:DNA Replication / Q000235:genetics; D015536:Down-Regulation; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000235:genetics*
D035683:MicroRNAs; C078035:UL36 protein, Human herpesvirus 1; D014764:Viral Proteins