RNA interference as a cellular defense mechanism against the DNA virus baculovirus.

ABSTRACT: In insects, the RNA interference (RNAi) pathway plays a major role in antiviral responses, as shown against many RNA viruses. The response includes the cleavage of double-stranded RNA genome or intermediates, produced during replication, into viral short interfering RNAs (v-siRNAs). Using deep sequencing, we found that a large number of small reads of ∼20 nucleotides from Helicoverpa armigera larvae infected with Helicoverpa armigera single nucleopolyhedrovirus (HaSNPV) were mapped to certain open reading frames in the viral genome (hot spots) that are mostly structural and auxiliary late genes. After excluding the possibility of these small RNAs being microRNAs, it was determined that Dicer-2, the main enzyme implicated in the RNAi response in insects, is involved in the generation of v-s

SUBMITTER: Jayachandran B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3503065 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature