A novel assay for viral microRNA function identifies a single nucleotide polymorphism that affects Drosha processing.

ABSTRACT: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of approximately 22-nucleotide noncoding RNAs that inhibit the expression of specific target genes at the posttranscriptional level. Recently, 11 miRNAs encoded by the pathogenic human herpesvirus Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) were cloned from latently infected cells. While the expression of these miRNAs has been confirmed by Northern analysis, their ability to inhibit target gene expression has not been demonstrated. We have devised a novel assay for miRNA function that uses lentiviral indicator vectors carrying two perfectly complementary target sites for each given miRNA in the 3' untranslated region of the Renilla luciferase gene. This assay allowed us to demonstrate the activity of each viral miRNA upon cotransduction of cells with the R

SUBMITTER: Gottwein E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1472151 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature