title: Expression of the vault RNA protects cells from undergoing apoptosis.
abstract: Non-protein-coding RNAs are a functionally versatile class of transcripts exerting their biological roles on the RNA level. Recently, we demonstrated that the vault complex-associated RNAs (vtRNAs) are significantly upregulated in Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-infected human B cells. Very little is known about the function(s) of the vtRNAs or the vault complex. Here, we individually express latent EBV-encoded proteins in B cells and identify the latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) as trigger for vtRNA upregulation. Ectopic expression of vtRNA1-1, but not of the other vtRNA paralogues, results in an improved viral establishment and reduced apoptosis, a function located in the central domain of vtRNA1-1. Knockdown of the major vault protein has no effect on these phenotypes revealing that vtRNA1-1 and not the vault complex contributes to general cell death resistance. This study describes a NF-κB-mediated role of the non-coding vtRNA1-1 in inhibiting both the extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways.
authors.affiliation: Division of Genomics and RNomics, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck A-6020, Austria.
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amort
authors.affiliation: 1] Division of Genomics and RNomics, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck A-6020, Austria [2] Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Bern CH-3012, Switzerland [3] Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern Bern 3012, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nachbauer
authors.affiliation: Division of Developmental Immunology, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck A-6020, Austria.
authors.forename: Selma
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tuzlak
authors.affiliation: 1] Research Unit Gene Vectors, Helmholtz Zentrum München, München D-81377, Germany [2] German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner site Munich, München D-81377, Germany.
authors.forename: Arnd
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kieser
authors.affiliation: 1] Research Unit Gene Vectors, Helmholtz Zentrum München, München D-81377, Germany [2] German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner site Munich, München D-81377, Germany.
authors.forename: Aloys
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schepers
authors.affiliation: Division of Developmental Immunology, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck A-6020, Austria.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Villunger
authors.affiliation: 1] Division of Genomics and RNomics, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck A-6020, Austria [2] Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Bern CH-3012, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Polacek
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D001483:Base Sequence; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D019610:Cytoprotection; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D012313:RNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D017735:Virus Latency
chemical_list: C037662:EBV-associated membrane antigen, Epstein-Barr virus; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins; D012313:RNA